Aurantia Park

Aurantia Park. Highland. , Highland played an important role in the Citrus Belt of the San Bernardino Valley. Historic development began during the 1850's when members of the Cram and Van Leuven families settled at the base of the East Highlands bench. In 1858 Lewis F. Cram and his brothers, and Federick Van Leuven and his son, joined in digging a ditch from the mouth of the Santa Ana River to irrigate their land. This ditch crossed the Aurantia Park. , In 1879, Redlands developers, Jedson and Brown, became interested in the higher ground on the Highland bench, and contracted to build a new high-line ditch, known as the North Fork Ditch. It was completed in 1885, and allowed development of what became known as East Highlands Ranch by J.S. Edwards, who began buying land and planting oranges in 1887. The region grew and became a major citrus growing area during the latter nineteenth century and through the twentieth century. , In 1886, the Santa Fe Railroad came into San Bernardino, and soon after, a loop through the project area and Redlands was completed. Known as the Highland Division, and part of the Santa Fe's famous "Old Kite Routes" popular for weekend excursions during the early part of the century. The line passed adjacent to the southwest corner of the project site. It is now abandoned and the rails and ties have been removed. Since 1980, the East Highlands area has been in the process of conversion from a rural agricultural region to a suburban residential neighborhood and is now a part of the City of Highland, incorporated in 1987. , In 1988, local resident and citrus grower, Elizabeth Mclean Kiel, donated these 12 acres to the City of Highland. It is the first place of property to be set aside as public parkland in Highland. Its name "Aurantia" means "Golden" for the variety of oranges grown in this area. Mrs. Kiel requested the park be used to preserve a small piece of Highland's citrus heritage, native flora, and fauna. Improvements at the park were constructed with thousands of volunteer hours, state and local funding.