To become a public park...

Stunning stretch of private coastal Bay Area land to become a public park

Andrew Chamings

More than 6,000 acres of stunning Bay Area land, once slated for development into luxury estates, is to be protected and opened to the public. 

The rugged forested hilltops and remote coastal prairies of Cloverdale Ranch lie a few miles south of Pescadero in San Mateo County. Since 1997, the land has been protected by the Peninsula Open Space Trust, a nonprofit organization that aims to steward and protect open spaces on the San Francisco Peninsula and in the South Bay. Their acquisition of the land 25 years ago put an end to plans to develop the coastal land into low-density residences. 

Now, after gaining approval from its governing body, the land is set to be purchased for about $16 million by a public parks agency, the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District (Midpen), which plans on opening the land up to the public. 

“Purchasing a large portion of Cloverdale Ranch from our partners at POST is incredibly significant for Midpen and a fitting capstone to our yearlong 50th anniversary celebrations,” Midpen general manager Ana María Ruiz said in a statement. “This vast ecological and agricultural jewel on the Coastside is poised to become Midpen’s 27th public open space preserve and to be protected and managed in perpetuity for environmental restoration, viable agriculture and ecologically sensitive public enjoyment and education.”

“Back in 1997, the threat of subdivision and commercial development of this stunning, environmentally rich swath of the San Mateo Coastside was very real,” POST President Walter T. Moore said in a statement. “Fast-forward to 2022, and the people of San Mateo County can rely on the long-term environmental and economic benefits of resilient ecosystems and working lands.”

The land includes a rare intact coastal prairie, fish-spawning habitats and is home to several special-status species, including the San Francisco garter snake, the California red-legged frog and the American badger. The 6,300 acres also contain 15 miles of streams and the endangered Point Reyes meadowfoam flower. 

The transfer of the land to the public parks district starts with the purchase of approximately 5,100 acres from POST in 2023, with an option to purchase 1,200 further acres in 2025. The funding for the purchase came largely from grants and a public bond measure, Midpen said. 

The parks district says that building out public trails through the bluffs and valleys will take time, but the district will likely offer guided tours in the interim. One trail on the land, Wilbur's Watch, is already open to the public and is slated to remain so during the transfer.