SAN MARTIN
– Plans for trails and natural resource protection in the
county’s huge new swath of parkland around Coyote Lake will be the
topic of discussion before a community task force this week.
SAN MARTIN – Plans for trails and natural resource protection in the county’s huge new swath of parkland around Coyote Lake will be the topic of discussion before a community task force this week.
Since the county bought the 3,000-acre Harvey Bear ranch and 700-acre Mendoza property east of San Martin for $11 million in 1998, the county’s parks department has spent over two years developing a draft plan for improvements at what will eventually become Coyote-Bear County Park.
The trails plan proposal to be included in the master plan for the new parkland will be the subject of a review Tuesday before the Bear Ranch Task Force.
The plan will include an alignment of the Bay Area Ridge Trail that will run through the park, as well as multi-use trail loops and connections to major entry points and several activity zones to be built there.
The task force is also slated to discuss the draft Natural Resources Plan, which will detail how wildlife habitat management in open space areas of the former cattle ranch will be restored, managed and protected.
Besides beautiful views and myriad recreational opportunities, the expanse of property offers visitors a taste of more than a dozen different ecotypes, ranging from native grasslands to oak woodland.
Wildlife includes deer, mountain lions, wild boars as well as protected species such as burrowing owls and golden eagles. The park also contains serpentine grasslands, prime habitat for the endangered bay checkerspot butterfly, and several sensitive riparian areas.
The task force includes San Martin residents, park neighbors and representatives from various recreation interests – ranging from golfing to equestrians to mountain bikers. Previously, the group has spent most of its time developing and refining a list of recreational improvements for the park.
The meeting begins Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. at the Machado School Building, 15130 Sycamore Ave. in Morgan Hill.
For information call 355-2236 or visit the county Parks Department’s Web site at www.parkhere.org on the Internet.
