Walnut Creek Open Space
View of Old Borges Ranch
LocationWalnut Creek, California
Websitehttps://www.walnut-creek.org/departments/open-space

Walnut Creek Open Space is a collection of parks and land owned by the city of Walnut Creek. It consists of four main areas: Shell Ridge, Lime Ridge, Acalanes Ridge, and Sugarloaf.

History

In the early 1970s, further Walnut Creek housing developments were proposed in the Mount Diablo foothills. Local activists worked with Walnut Creek City Council to get a bond measure for the city to purchase and preserve land put on the ballot of the June 1974 election, which voters approved.[1][2]

List of parks

These areas are part of Walnut Creek Open Space:[3]

Shell Ridge

Shell Ridge is 1,420 acres and has 31 miles of trails.[3] It is the largest parcel of Walnut Creek Open Space, and features the ridge, foothills, and rock outcroppings. It is connected to Mount Diablo State Park via the Briones-Mount Diablo Trail, and shares borders with the Diablo Foothills Regional Park and Castle Rock Regional Recreation Area.[4]

Included in Shell Ridge are:

Lime Ridge

Lime Ridge is 1,226 acres and has 25 miles of trails.[3] It is situated between Walnut Creek and Concord, adjacent to Mount Diablo State Park. Limestone was quarried at this site from 1905 to 1946. Botanist Mary Bowerman found Mount Diablo buckwheat at this location.[5]

Acalanes Ridge

Acalanes Ridge is 201 acres and has 4 miles of trails.[3] Its peak is the site of large concrete arrows once used by the Transcontinental Airway System.[6]

Sugarloaf

Sugarloaf is 177 acres and has 3 miles of trails.[3] It includes a ridge-top trail, black walnut grove, picnic area, bathrooms, ranger station.[7]

Walnut Creek Open Space Foundation

The Walnut Creek Open Space Foundation is a nonprofit organization tasked with restoring and maintaining the open space land. Projects have included planting native oak trees and native grasses, and restoring California quail habitat.[8]

References

  1. ↑ White, Marnie (2000). Echoes from an Open Space Ranch. Lafayette, California: Pleasant Hill Press. ISBN 0964977672.
  2. ↑ "Open Space History | City of Walnut Creek". www.walnut-creek.org. Retrieved 2023-07-14.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 "Open Space | City of Walnut Creek". www.walnut-creek.org. Retrieved 2023-07-13.
  4. ↑ Stienstra, Tom (2013-12-22). "Shell Ridge Open Space holds surprises". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved 2023-07-14.
  5. ↑ Gallagher, John (Apr–Jun 2010). "Lime Ridge Open Space". Bay Nature. 10 (2): 14. ISSN 1531-5193 – via Academic Search Complete.
  6. ↑ Mills, David (2014-01-21). "What Are These Concrete Arrows On Top Of Acalanes Ridge?". Walnut Creek, CA Patch. Retrieved 2023-07-14.
  7. ↑ Todd, Gail (2012-11-21). "Sugarloaf Open Space a Walnut Creek treat". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved 2023-07-13.
  8. ↑ Murphey, Brian (Jul–Aug 2006). "Low-tech approach to wildlife habitat improvement serves wildlife well". Outdoor California. 67 (4): 14–21. ISSN 0030-7025 – via MasterFILE Complete.
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