Peninsula Open Space Trust Transfers 210 Land Parcels at Wavecrest to Coastside Land Trust

Peninsula Open Space Trust Transfers 210 Land Parcels at Wavecrest to Coastside Land Trust

Transfer of ownership completes efforts launched in 2008 to protect coastal open space and recreational area within City of Half Moon Bay

PALO ALTO, Calif. (December 19, 2019) – Peninsula Open Space Trust (POST) and Coastside Land Trust (CLT) today jointly announced the transfer of 212 parcels of land, totaling 87.89 acres from POST to CLT as part of Wavecrest Open Space. The Open Space was established in 2008, when POST protected an initial 200 acres of coastside wetlands that had long been slated for residential development.

“This land transfer is another step toward an entirely new chapter in Wavecrest’s history,” said Walter T. Moore, president of POST. “What was once a railroad passage is, bit by bit, becoming protected open space that combines recreational access with a preserved scenic corridor and sensitive natural habitat. All creatures who love the coast and live here will benefit from this permanent conservation.”

Since the first parcel was protected by POST in 2008, CLT has managed the lands as open space, creating and maintaining trails for hiking and coastal access. Earlier this year, CLT announced plans to extend Wavecrest Trail, connecting the California Coastal Trail to Redondo Beach and extending it another two miles along the coastal bluffs.

Wavecrest had been the focus of land developers since the early 20^th century, when the Ocean Shore Railroad Company subdivided large sections of the area into hundreds of coastside lots. When POST stepped in to permanently protect the majority of those lots in 2008, the community had already decided to prioritize the recreational and environmental benefits of the last large coastal property within the Half Moon Bay city limits. Over the intervening years, POST has transferred some acreage to Coastside Land Trust and the Smith Ballfields to the City of Half Moon Bay, for their continued management of this public recreational facility. This latest transfer completes the transfer of the most recent land acquisitions.

“Similar to Pillar Point further north, CLT and POST have been protecting and managing individual properties over the years in order to formalize and improve a connected network of recreational trails  that are safe for people while also protecting open space on our coastal blufftops,” explained Jo Chamberlain, executive director of CLT, which has managed the open space since 2008. “This is an exciting project that will continue to play out in the years ahead and we are working now to raise the funds needed to care for this fragile place in perpetuity.”

This transaction was made possible in part by funding from the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation and the California Coastal Conservancy.

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About Peninsula Open Space Trust

POST protects open space on the Peninsula and in the South Bay for the benefit of all. As a private nonprofit land trust, POST has been responsible for saving more than 78,000 acres over the last 40 years. POST works with private landowners and public agencies to connect people and nature. Visit openspacetrust.org for more information.

About Coastside Land Trust

The Coastside Land Trust is dedicated to the preservation, protection and enhancement of the open space environment, including the natural, scenic, recreational, cultural, historical, and agricultural resources of Half Moon Bay and the San Mateo County coast for present and future generations. Visit coastsidelandtrust.org for more information.