The Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District (MROSD) is a non-enterprise special district in the

San Francisco Bay Area The San Francisco Bay Area, commonly known as the Bay Area, is a List of regions of California, region of California surrounding and including San Francisco Bay, and anchored by the cities of Oakland, San Francisco, and San Jose, California, S ...

. Formed in 1972 by voter initiative, it has acquired and preserved a regional

green belt A green belt or greenbelt is a policy, and land-use zone designation used in land-use planning to retain areas of largely undeveloped, wilderness, wild, or agricultural landscape, land surrounding or neighboring urban areas. Similar concepts ...

of open space land and provides opportunities for ecologically-sensitive public enjoyment and education. The district, which includes parts of Santa Clara, San Mateo and Santa Cruz counties, works to form a continuous green belt of permanently preserved open space by linking its lands with other public park lands. A member of the Bay Area Open Space Council, the district also participates in cooperative efforts such as the

San Francisco Bay Trail The San Francisco Bay Trail is a bicycle and pedestrian trail that when finished will allow continuous travel around the shoreline of San Francisco Bay. As of 2020, of the trail have been completed. When finished, the trail will be over of pa ...

Bay Area Ridge Trail The Bay Area Ridge Trail (shortened as Ridge Trail) is a multi-use trail along the hill and mountain ridgelines surrounding the San Francisco Bay Area, in Northern California. It is planned to extend ; , have been established. When complete, ...

, and Skyline-to-the-Sea Trail, which are regional trail systems in the Bay Area that include district lands. The Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District has permanently preserved almost of mountainous, foothill, and bayland open space, creating 26 open space preserves. Of the district's 26 preserves, 24 are open to the public free of charge, 365 days a year from dawn until one-half hour after sunset. The district's tax and voter base consists of about and 741,000 people, mostly in Santa Clara and San Mateo counties. District revenues for fiscal year 2012-2013 were $33 million, with $30.3 million coming directly from a portion of property taxes. The district also occasionally receives state and federal grants, as well as private donations. Its stated mission is: ''To acquire and preserve a regional greenbelt of open space land in perpetuity; protect and restore the natural environment; and provide opportunities for ecologically sensitive public enjoyment and education.''

Recreation

Most of the preserves are open to

recreation Recreation is an activity of leisure, leisure being discretionary time. The "need to do something for recreation" is an essential element of human biology and psychology. Recreational activities are often done for happiness, enjoyment, amusement, ...

. Popular activities are

hiking A hike is a long, vigorous walk, usually on trails or footpaths in the countryside. Walking for pleasure developed in Europe during the eighteenth century. Long hikes as part of a religious pilgrimage have existed for a much longer time. "Hi ...

cycling Cycling, also known as bicycling or biking, is the activity of riding a bicycle or other types of pedal-driven human-powered vehicles such as balance bikes, unicycles, tricycles, and quadricycles. Cycling is practised around the world fo ...

, and

horseback riding Equestrianism (from Latin , , , 'horseman', 'horse'), commonly known as horse riding (Commonwealth English) or horseback riding (American English), includes the disciplines of riding, driving, and vaulting. This broad description includes the u ...

Paragliding Paragliding is the recreational and competitive adventure sport of flying paragliders: lightweight, free-flying, foot-launched glider aircraft with no rigid primary structure. The pilot sits in a harness or in a cocoon-like 'pod' suspended be ...

and

hang gliding Hang gliding is an air sports, air sport or recreational activity in which a pilot flies a light, non-motorised, fixed-wing aircraft, fixed-wing heavier-than-air aircraft called a hang glider. Most modern hang gliders are made of an aluminium al ...

are permitted at Windy Hill Open Space Preserve with a special use permit.

Camping Camping is a form of outdoor recreation or outdoor education involving overnight stays with a basic temporary shelter such as a tent. Camping can also include a recreational vehicle, sheltered cabins, a permanent tent, a shelter such as a Bivy bag ...

is generally prohibited, though the Monte Bello Open Space Preserve does have a

backpacking Backpacking may refer to: * Backpacking (travel), low-cost, independent, international travel * Backpacking (hiking), trekking and camping overnight in the wilderness * Ultralight backpacking, a style of wilderness backpacking with an emphasis on ...

camp available by permit only. Of the 26 preserves, 24 are fully open to the public: Miramontes Ridge Open Space Preserve and Tunitas Creek Open Space Preserve are not open; the Bear Creek Redwoods Open Space Preserve and La Honda Creek Open Space Preserve require a permit for use, and portions of Sierra Azul Open Space Preserve are closed to the public due to hazardous areas at the summit of

Mount Umunhum Mount Umunhum ( ) is a peak in the Santa Cruz Mountains, located in Santa Clara County, California. It is the fourth-highest peak in the Santa Cruz Mountains, after Loma Prieta, Crystal Peak, and Mount Chual. Most of the mountain is located w ...

. In total, the district has of hiking trails, of which is open to bicycles, to equestrians, and to leashed dogs. Preserves are relatively undeveloped, with most having only a parking area, trail signs, and possibly an outhouse. All preserves are open from dawn to one-half hour after sunset. Park rangers patrol the district and provide a range of services. Ranger staff are peace officers but do not carry firearms. They wear tan and green uniforms; the badge is a gold metal seven-point star with an enameled California state seal in the center. Dispatch services are provided by the Mountain View Police Department under contract.

Open space preserves

The following open space preserves are managed by MROSD:

Gallery

File:Monte Bello Open Space Preserve.jpg, Monte Bello Open Space Preserve File:Russian Ridge-Wildflowers.jpg, Russian Ridge Open Space Preserve File:PulgasRidgeTrailBridge.JPG,

Pulgas Ridge Open Space Preserve Pulgas Ridge Open Space Preserve is a public recreation area in the Santa Cruz Mountains, San Mateo County in northern California. It is managed by the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District (MROSD). The nature reserve covers with of trai ...

File:Meadow in Rancho San Antonio County Park.jpg, Rancho San Antonio County Park and Open Space Preserve

References

External links

Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District openspace.org Home Page

Information on District Preserve
{{Authority control Parks in the San Francisco Bay Area Nature reserves in California Special districts of California Park districts in California Non-profit organizations based in California 1972 establishments in California

Recreation

Open space preserves

Gallery

Further reading

References

External links