Ambitious Open Space Proposal for Silicon Valley

Paul Rogers reports on a proposed bond measure that would fill the coffers of the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District—which spans parts of San Mateo and Santa Clara counties.

The “Midpen” open space is located adjacent to some of the most valuable real estate in the state of California—where the Peninsula becomes the Silicon Valley (and vice versa).

Although the district has in its portfolio 62,167 acres—twice the size of San Francisco—“only 54 percent of its acreage is open to the public,” writes Rogers.

The proposed bond measure would “provide enough money to open all the rest of the district's lands…”

“Funds also would be used to build trails, fix bridges and to acquire between 13,000 and 28,000 more acres, he said, much of it redwood forests, and to link trails in Santa Clara County and San Mateo County with parks in Santa Cruz County.”

Opponents call the plan “empire building” and are concerned about the impact the bond measure would have on taxes.