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Summer 2022

Inside this issue: opening new trails, our work protecting and restoring native wildflowers, celebrating our collective accomplishments, how a potential purchase could help an endangered species, upcoming events and activities, project updates and more.

New Grasshopper Loop Trail Opens June 3

As we celebrate our 50th anniversary, Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District is also celebrating our 250th mile of public trail. The new 1.3-mile Grasshopper Loop Trail in La Honda Creek Open Space Preserve opened on the afternoon of Friday, June 3.

Maturing Into Our Mission

A message from the general manager: as we look back, this year, on 50 years since our founding in 1972, an evolution of the emphasis on the various strands of our braided mission reveals

Events & Activities

Docent-Led Guided Activities

All Preserves Great & Small
Immerse yourself in nature and history to celebrate Midpen’s 50th anniversary with docent naturalists as your guides for the “All Preserves Great & Small” year-long hike series. Each preserve offers something special and retired Midpen ranger Frances Reneau, now a docent naturalist, created this series.
June 19, Miramontes Ridge Preserve
July 8, Bear Creek Redwoods Preserve
July 17, Coal Creek Preserve
August 21, El Corte de Madera Creek Preserve
August 30, Purisima Creek Redwoods Preserve

Signs of Summer - June 8 at Pulgas Ridge Preserve
Travel the Blue Oak and Dick Bishop trails and climb to the top of a ridge on the Dusky-footed Woodrat Trail to take in views of the Bay and surrounding hills.

EarthQuake 101 - June 18 at Los Trancos Preserve
Explore the boundary between the North American and Pacific plates on a leisurely-paced walk to examine the effects of seismic activity and learn how to prepare for future earthquakes.

Ohlone Medicine - June 25 at Long Ridge Preserve
Explore the role of plants and botany in both Native American and Western traditions on a 4- to 5-mile moderately-paced hike in conjunction with the Santa Clara County Library District.


Volunteer Projects

Volunteer projects for the month of July are now open for registration — sign up while space is still available! New projects are posted the first Wednesday of every month. 

Project Updates

Carpool to Rancho San Antonio

This July we will begin a pilot carpool parking program at Rancho San Antonio County Park & Open Space Preserve. On weekends and holidays, the 80 vehicle spaces in the equestrian lower parking area at the Coyote Trail trailhead will be reserved for carpools of three or more. ADA-accessible spaces and equestrian trailer parking will remain available at all times. New electronic signs displaying current parking availability in all lots will be installed at the preserve entrance. This real-time information will also be available on Midpen’s website for potential visitors to check before they leave home.

Find out more


Reintroducing Prescribed Fire to Midpen’s Land Management Toolbox

As part of our Wildland Fire Resiliency Program, Midpen staff is working to add prescribed fire to our land management toolbox in late 2023. We are currently developing the program details and seeking public input through community open houses this summer.

Get more info and learn how to participate.

Cloverdale: Preserving an Ecological Jewel

Midpen is evaluating the purchase of a large portion of Cloverdale, a remarkable swath of open space and agricultural land on the San Mateo County Coast near Pescadero, from our partners at POST. We are engaging with partners and the public about this potential purchase throughout 2022.

Take a tour of Cloverdale Ranch with POST, Midpen and OpenRoad's Doug McConnell.

Public Meetings

Bear Creek Redwoods Trail Alignment

Join us on Wednesday, June 8 at 7 p.m. when the board of directors will receive a presentation, review and consider approval of the alignment of the future multi-use trail at Bear Creek Redwoods Open Space Preserve.

After a decade-long process that included substantial public outreach and involvement, Midpen completed the Bear Creek Redwoods Preserve Plan, a long-term use and management plan for the preserve, in 2017. The plan included a multi-use trail alignment for hiking, bicycling and equestrian use. As a result of subsequent field investigations, the proposed multi-use alignment was deemed infeasible due to topographic constraints, resource considerations and existing structures. A refined alignment of the multi-use trail was provided to the Board in April 2020. Due to ongoing public interest in this alignment, the Board will now review and consider approval of the proposed multi-use trail alignment.


Upcoming Public Meetings

June 8 - Board of Directors
June 14 - Board Appointee Evaluation Committee
June 22 - Board of Directors
June 28 - Planning & Natural Resources Committee
June 29 - Board Meeting

Midpen board meetings are held via teleconference. The meetings may be viewed online. There is also a dial in number to listen by phone. Links and numbers are included in the meeting agendas posted online 72 hours before the meeting.

Members of the public may provide written or oral comments by submitting a public comment form.

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