Los Gatos in Santa Clara County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

Preserve and Protect

Saving Open Space

Photographed By Joseph Alvarado, July 29, 2022

1. Preserve and Protect Marker

Inscription.

Preserve and Protect. Saving Open Space. , In the rapidly urbanizing Silicon Valley, open space is precious. Your voice and your vote help protect the regional greenbelt that provides us all with clean air and water, climate change resilience, and nearby opportunities to unplug and connect with nature., As early as the 1970s, conservationists were inspired by this land’s majestic redwood forest, history, and proximity to South Bay cities. Many envisioned a preserve here, and in 1987, the County of Santa Clara declared it a priority for preservation. However, a developer bought the property in 1989 and made plans for luxury homes and a golf course., Organizations like Friends of Bear Creek Redwoods and Committee for Green Foothills immediately rallied to voice their concerns about the proposal. They valued keeping the land as open space, to protect the watershed, limit landslide risks, and maintain the area’s rural charm. After almost three years of sending letters, making phone calls and speaking at public meetings, advocates convinced county decision-makers to stop the development., Meanwhile, Midpen and Peninsula Open Space Trust (POST) worked together to buy the property. Midpen secured state grants with help from California State Senator Byron Sher, while POST’s supporters donated generously. In 1999, Bear Creek Redwoods Open Space Preserve was finally created, and the land was protected at last., Caption One: , Bear Creek Redwoods Open Space Preserve would not exist without the tireless work of our grassroots supporters and ally organizations. This Committee for Green Foothills newsletter from 1997 reports on the campaign’s progress., Caption Two: , This old growth redwood an Alma Trail is 200 feet tall and 32 feet around near the base. Loggers left it standing because its strange form would have made it hard to mill., Caption Three: , Indigenous Ohlone people gathered acorns here, and ground them into flour in rock mortars. The grinding wore deep holes in the rock over generations., Caption Four: , Bear Creek Redwoods Open Space Preserve provides habitat for protected species like this California Giant Salamander. . This historical marker was erected by Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District. It is in Los Gatos in Santa Clara County California

In the rapidly urbanizing Silicon Valley, open space is precious. Your voice and your vote help protect the regional greenbelt that provides us all with clean air and water, climate change resilience, and nearby opportunities to unplug and connect with nature.

As early as the 1970s, conservationists were inspired by this land’s majestic redwood forest, history, and proximity to South Bay cities. Many envisioned a preserve here, and in 1987, the County of Santa Clara declared it a priority for preservation. However, a developer bought the property in 1989 and made plans for luxury homes and a golf course.

Organizations like Friends of Bear Creek Redwoods and Committee for Green Foothills immediately rallied to voice their concerns about the proposal. They valued keeping the land as open space, to protect the watershed, limit landslide risks, and maintain the area’s rural charm. After almost three years of sending letters, making phone calls and speaking at public meetings, advocates convinced county decision-makers to stop the development.

Meanwhile, Midpen and Peninsula Open Space Trust (POST) worked together

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to buy the property. Midpen secured state grants with help from California State Senator Byron Sher, while POST’s supporters donated generously. In 1999, Bear Creek Redwoods Open Space Preserve was finally created, and the land was protected at last.

Caption One:
Bear Creek Redwoods Open Space Preserve would not exist without the tireless work of our grassroots supporters and ally organizations. This Committee for Green Foothills newsletter from 1997 reports on the campaign’s progress.

Caption Two:
This old growth redwood an Alma Trail is 200 feet tall and 32 feet around near the base. Loggers left it standing because its strange form would have made it hard to mill.

Caption Three:
Indigenous Ohlone people gathered acorns here, and ground them into flour in rock mortars. The grinding wore deep holes in the rock over generations.

Caption Four:
Bear Creek Redwoods Open Space Preserve provides habitat for protected species like this California Giant Salamander.

Erected by Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Charity & Public Work • Environment • Horticulture & Forestry • Parks & Recreational Areas. A significant historical year for this entry is 1987.

Location. 37°

Photographed By Joseph Alvarado, July 29, 2022

2. Preserve and Protect Marker

10.97′ N, 122° 0.23′ W. Marker is in Los Gatos, California, in Santa Clara County. Marker can be reached from Bear Creek Road, on the right when traveling north. The resin marker is mounted to a metal stand next to the Bear Creek Redwoods main parking lot. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Los Gatos CA 95033, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 3 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Layers of History (here, next to this marker); Lexington Reservoir County Park (approx. 1.2 miles away); Lexington Reservoir (approx. 1.2 miles away); Lexington Dam (approx. 1½ miles away); "The Cats" (approx. 2.4 miles away); Mountain Charlie Road (approx. 2.9 miles away); Patchen (approx. 2.9 miles away); 911 Memorial (approx. 3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Los Gatos.

Also see . . . Bear Creek Redwoods Overview. Bear Creek Redwoods Preserve website homepage:

"Between 1850 and 1900, the rapid growth of San Francisco and San Jose fueled a high demand for lumber, and most of the old-growth trees in the region were felled. When the timber industry was replaced by a private estate, a number of orchards and vineyards were established throughout the property. However, Timber harvest continued on some areas well into the mid 1900s. In 1934, the majority of what is now Bear Creek Redwoods Preserve was sold to the Jesuits, who established a theological college, the
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first of its kind on the west coast."

(Submitted on August 2, 2022, by Joseph Alvarado of Livermore, California.)

Credits. This page was last revised on September 24, 2022. It was originally submitted on August 1, 2022, by Joseph Alvarado of Livermore, California. This page has been viewed 125 times since then and 72 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on August 2, 2022, by Joseph Alvarado of Livermore, California. • Syd Whittle was the editor who published this page.