Open Space Protected on California’s Central Coast

The protection of a locally popular swimming hole and a network of hiking trails was celebrated Friday by The Trust for Public Land and residents of the central California coastal community of Atascadero.

Last May, The Trust for Public Land bought the 102-acre property near Atascadero Creek from the Davis family of Atascadero and sold it to the Atascadero Land Preservation Society. The $780,000 cost was paid for through grants from the state of California.

“It was wonderful to work on this project because the land means so much to this community,” said Brendan Moriarity, The Trust for Public Land’s project manager. “This would not have been done without a team effort, with support from the state of California and the people who live here.

The property includes 3/4 of a mile of Atascadero Creek and 102 acres of oak woodlands and meadows, connecting to the Los Padres National Forest. Atasacadero Creek is the home of steelhead trout, which migrate 150 miles from Monterey Bay.

The Trust for Public Land was founded in 1972 and protects land for people to enjoy as parks and open space. Since it was founded, TPL has protected more than 3 million acres in 47 states. TPL, the nation’s leading organization in creating local funds for conservation, depends upon the support of individuals, foundations, and corporations.