Major acquisition for Old Saint Hilary’s open space in Tiburon The bucolic Old Saint Hilary’s Open Space Preserve, which overlooks the town of Tiburon, nearly doubled in size in September, following the finalization of an annexation of 110 adjacent acres. The parcel, situated in the hills above Tiburon, is “widely known as one of the last great urban open spaces in Northern California, but it was vulnerable to development for large homes and long targeted by the environmental community for preservation,” County of Marin officials said in a press release announcing the acquisition. The area is a popular hiking destination featuring views overlooking the San Francisco Bay. The Marin County Open Space District purchased the parcel for $42.1 million. The future of the land had been up in the air for decades. Referred to as the Martha property, located on an area of the Tiburon Peninsula known as Easton Point, it remained under the ownership of the same family for more than 100 years. Residents never knew whether the 110 acres would be developed for homes or left unscathed for the preservation of nature and recreational purposes, according to the announcement.
The preserve is named for Old Saint Hilary’s chapel, built in 1888.
In June 2022, the Open Space District approved a purchase and sale agreement that involved a two-year fundraising plan by Trust for Public Land. In November 2022, residents with the Tiburon Peninsula Open Space District approved Measure M, a $23 million bond for the parcel acquisition. Old Saint Hilary’s Open Space Preserve is named for a white chapel built in 1888 on the southern end of the property. The federally threatened California red-legged frog is known to inhabit the preserve. A public celebration is planned for Oct. 26; event details will be posted on parks.marincounty.org. — JW
Plastic grocery bags banned once again
Plastic grocery bags banned once again.
October 2024
NorthBaybiz 15
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