The Sunnyvale Sun

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Protecting public land through raised awareness

By ELIZABETH DUTKIEWICZ

From public parks to play space, the Trust for Public Land is dedicated to making sure such areas are held in trust for everyone to enjoy. On July 13, Sunnyvale's Cypress Hotel, Kimpton Hotel and Park Place Restaurant co-sponsored a picnic-themed fundraiser for the organization at Cali Mills Plaza.

The event raised funds for its Parks for People program while raising awareness of initiatives to preserve public lands.

Simone Sherwood of the Cupertino De Anza Lions Club said, "The event is a great opportunity to get various groups together to support the parks initiatives."

Those initiatives include making sure people--children in particular--have close-to-home access to a park or natural area. "It is so important to be involved and give back to the communities," said Maria Streeby, general manager of Cypress Hotel.

The nonprofit, San Francisco-based Trust for Public Land has acquired more than 2 million acres of land in 46 states since its establishment in 1972. According to Bay Area program director Tim Wirth, the Santa Clara County Open Space Authority purchased 534 acres of land in 2000. This land became part of San Jose's Alum Rock Park, near Boccardo Trail. It is the most recent local project.

"In addition to our urban work, TPL is active throughout the nine Bay Area counties protecting some of the region's most beloved landscapes and ensuring residents have recreational opportunities close to home," said Reed Holderman, executive director of the Trust for Public Land-California. Current initiatives protect ranches and forests that support land-based livelihoods, as well as conserving wilderness and wildlife habitats.

Holderman said the Coast Dairies project in Santa Cruz is five miles of beaches and land along the north coast. The stretch of coastal acres is being transferred to the public with plans to establish a new state park.

For more information on the Trust for Public Land, visit www.tpl.org.