TAB1 Appendix D TAB2 TAB3 Liv Ames TAB4 TAB5 TAB6 Appendix D: Recreation and Education Report Skyline Ridge Open Space Preserve Space Ridge Open Skyline TAB7 Appendix D-1: Vision Plan Existing Conditions for Access, Recreation and Environmental Education Prepared for: Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District 330 Distel Circle, Los Altos, CA 94022 October 2013 Prepared by: Randy Anderson, Alta Planning + Design Appendix D: Recreation and Education Report CONTENTS Existing Access, Recreation and Environmental Education Opportunities by Subregion ........... 3 About the Subregions ............................................................................................................ 3 Subregion: North San Mateo County Coast ................................................................................... 5 Subregion: South San Mateo County Coast ................................................................................... 8 Subregion: Central Coastal Mountains ....................................................................................... 10 Subregion: Skyline Ridge ....................................................................................................... 12 Subregion: Peninsula Foothills ................................................................................................ 15 Subregion: San Francisco Baylands ........................................................................................... 18 Subregion: South Bay Foothills ................................................................................................ 20 Subregion: Sierra Azul .......................................................................................................... 22 Existing Access, Recreation and Environmental Education Opportunities by Activity ............ 23 Mountain Biking ................................................................................................................. 23 Dog Access ....................................................................................................................... 23 Horseback Riding ................................................................................................................ 24 Accessible Trails................................................................................................................. 24 Environmental Education, Interpretation, and Stewardship .......................................... 25 District Web-Based Interpretation ........................................................................................... 25 District Public Information .................................................................................................... 25 District Volunteer and Docent Programs .................................................................................... 25 On-Site Interpretation .......................................................................................................... 26 Partnerships ...................................................................................................................... 26 Other Interpretive Opportunities ............................................................................................. 26 Appendix D-1: Vision Plan Existing Conditions for Recreation and Environmental Education 2 Appendix D: Recreation and Education Report EXISTING ACCESS, RECREATION for the Vision Plan has been divided into eight AND ENVIRONMENTAL subregions (see Figure 1), as listed below. The EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES BY boundaries and names are for study convenience SUBREGION and are not formally defined. The subregions are described in the following sub-sections with This section is intended to provide useful corresponding tables of park and open space information for the public regarding existing lands, facilities and activities. access, recreation and environmental education opportunities in the overall region of the North San Mateo County Coast Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District’s South San Mateo County Coast Vision Plan. It provides context for analysis and suggestions as to what the ideal future vision Central Coastal Mountains would be. The Vision Plan process will reference Skyline Ridge these descriptions and tables to define general, Peninsula Foothills and where appropriate, more location-specific proposals for new access, recreation and San Francisco Baylands educational opportunities. Peninsula and South Bay Cities About the Subregions South Bay Foothills The overall Peninsula and South Bay Region can Sierra Azul be considered as a series of subregions with Peninsula and South Bay Cities comprises a very unique geographic conditions – coast, ridgeline, important subregion, but is not analyzed in this summit, interior mountains, foothills, or bay report because the District does not acquire land shore. These subregions tend to have their own or manage facilities in these urbanized areas. levels and routes of access for visitors. Organizing Through the Vision Plan and other ongoing the Vision Planning Area into subregions helps planning and implementation, the District is clarify the lands, facilities and activities that continually striving to best serve these urban available, and helps participants to review and constituents. comment on them in more detail. The study area Appendix D-1: Vision Plan Existing Conditions for Recreation and Environmental Education 3 Appendix D: Recreation and Education Report Figure 1: Subregions Map Appendix D-1: Vision Plan Existing Conditions for Recreation and Environmental Education 4 Appendix D: Recreation and Education Report Subregion: North San Mateo Pilarcitos Creek Trail and adjacent parks provide a County Coast nearly-complete connection from the coast east into the historic downtown. Just south of The North San Mateo County Coast Subregion downtown Half Moon Bay is the POST-owned extends from the City of Pacifica south, including historic Johnston farmhouse (operated by a non- the small communities of Montara, Moss Beach, profit foundation) and adjacent farm lands; the Princeton-by-the-Sea, and El Granada, and Elkus Youth Ranch in the coastal foothills; the centered around the City of Half Moon Bay. Cowell State Beach coastal access, and adjacent Highway 1 provides access up and down the Cowell-Purisima Coastal Trail, currently owned coast, and Highway 92 and the much longer and and operated by POST, on which a 3 mile trail more winding Highway 84 provide access from follows the coastal bluff past working farmlands. the Peninsula. These routes often experience major traffic backups on weekends and holidays. Open Space District Preserves Highway 1 also is a popular route for local and South of Highway 92, the lower portion of the touring bicyclists, and Half Moon Bay has District’s Purisima Creek Redwoods Open Space implemented a separate paved path paralleling Preserve extends into the Coastal Subregion, but most of its’ length in the City. The small historic is not yet open to the public. The District's agricultural village of San Gregorio lies near Coastside Protection Program became a reality on Highway 84, and to the south, the similarly September 7, 2004, when the Certificate of picturesque community of Pescadero occupies a Completion of Annexation extended the District's scenic valley between the coast and redwoods at boundary to the Pacific Ocean from the City of Pescadero Creek Road. Pacifica to the Santa Cruz County line. In Starting in the north, significant open space and response to overwhelming concern by San Mateo regional park areas include Pacifica State Beach County residents, the Midpeninsula Regional and Sharp Park Golf Course. The relatively Open Space District has partnered with undeveloped coastal hills between Pacifica and coastsiders to share the important responsibility of Half Moon Bay are partially protected by the protecting coastal land. The program is slated to National Park Service as part of the Golden Gate protect 11,800 acres of the coastside as open National Recreation Area (GGNRA) at Sweeney space and agricultural land over the next 15 years, Ridge, and in San Pedro Valley County Park, and though the District to date has not been able to the Sanchez Adobe County Park. Other significant take an active role in opening and managing lands areas include Montara State Beach and McNee in the subregion due to funding constraints. Ranch State Park, and the Point Montara Landscape Character Lighthouse. To the south is San Mateo County’s Fitzgerald Marine Reserve, including the POST- The North San Mateo County Coast Subregion owned Pillar Point Bluff area, and adjacent Pillar features broad coastal terraces transitioning Point Harbor lands that provide access to the sharply to steep hills, with grasslands, agricultural famous Mavericks surf break and a popular short fields, and coastal scrub and chaparral vegetation, trail that also accommodates bikes and dog especially at the north, transitioning on the upper walking. In the hills, the GGNRA now manages slopes and canyons to redwood and Douglas fir the 4,000 acre Rancho Corral de Tierra property, forests. The highlights of the coastal environment with trails and a working farm and ranch. are the dramatic views of the sea, the grassy lower Half Moon Bay State Beach and its’ coastal trails, slopes and forested mountains extending to the picnic and camping areas are very popular Skyline Subregion. Most of the access points have destinations. The City of Half Moon Bay’s relatively short trails and loops