FRIENDS OF EDGEWOOD NATURAL PRESERVE
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FRIENDS OF EDGEWOOD NATURAL PRESERVE
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CONSTRUCTION FOR INTERPRETIVE CENTER HAS BEGUN By Susan Russell Susan is a long-time member of Friends of Edgewood and is currently serving on the Parks Foundation Board. She has been involved in the weeding and Adopt-A-Highway programs at Edgewood. —ed One of the most significant events in Edgewood’s history is unfolding right before our eyes. A dream is beginning to come true, as we celebrate the first onsite work that will lead to the establishment of the Edgewood Interpretive Center. Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony November 6 The first phase of construction consists of environmental enhancements to the main entrance area near the Day Camp. The outer parking lot will be graded to reduce erosion and paved with a porous material to prevent runoff into the creek. A new pedestrian bridge across Cordilleras Creek made of sustainably-grown timber will help guide Park visitors from the parking lot to the Center. The creek habitat will be restored with native plants, and additional plants and shrubs will be placed to form a buffer zone between the creek and the parking lot. A gala ribbon-cutting ceremony is planned for Sunday November 6th at 11 am at the Day Camp, and all are invited and encouraged to attend. Although much work remains, this is a critical step in the development of this important facility for Edgewood. From Early Beginnings The need for an Interpretive Center at Edgewood was first publicly recognized in the Master Plan that was adopted in May 1997, and when our County Parks Foundation was established in 1998, the Center was one of the initial projects under consideration. The Edgewood Explorer first referred to the possibility of building a visitors’ center in the March 1999 issue. A great deal of progress has been made since then, including the development of a concept plan, architecture and design documents, and—probably most importantly—the raising of over $700,000 by the Parks Foundation, much of which was donated by Edgewood supporters like you . What Makes Edgewood Special? With the reality of the center now within sight, it’s useful to reflect on why the community has shown such great support for this project. As the only natural preserve in the San Mateo County parks system, it’s clear that Edgewood’s remarkable and fragile natural resources require special care in order to preserve them and keep them healthy. The Friends of Edgewood and the Santa Clara Valley Chapter of the California Native Plant Society are unquestionably responsible for making Edgewood one of the most pristine parks in the San Mateo County system. The high rate of volunteerism at Edgewood is truly impressive, and its effects are evident. Edgewood has spectacular wildflower displays in the spring—lush displays and much variety (over 50 species can be seen on a single walk), with a progression of varieties from early spring into summer. Many of the flowers can be seen elsewhere in the Bay Area but not in such profuse displays. Serpentine, the unusual soil that covers about a third of Edgewood, supports unusual plants and wildlife—things that just don’t grow in more common kinds of soil. Most species brought in with European settlement can’t live in serpentine soil, so serpentine areas form natural preserves of native plants and the animals that depend on them. Edgewood provides a window on what the area was like before Europeans arrived. In as little as an hour’s walk, a hiker can experience a diversity of habitats. The hiker’s experiences include panoramic views—east and south to the Bay and west to the foothills and Crystal Springs reservoir; shady, narrow, winding paths lined with ferns; and dry, sage and coyote brush-dominated rocky hillsides. And this is all in addition to the wildflowers. Edgewood has a huge variety of plant species for its size. It’s less than one square mile in size and has about 480 plant species. That’s roughly 500 times the species richness of the entire Santa Cruz Mountains bioregion. Four of Edgewood’s plants are on the federal list of endangered or threatened species. The state bird (quail), rock (serpentine), flower (poppy), tree (redwood) and grass (purple needle grass) all can be found at Edgewood. The Bay checkerspot butterfly, a federally threatened species, was formerly seen by the thousands at Edgewood. It is now extinct there, due largely to the invasion of non-native grasses that have overwhelmed the butterfly’s food plants. But a restoration program is in progress, and visitors may be able to see the Bay checkerspot once again in the coming years. So Why an Interpretive Center? People have a variety of reasons for supporting an interpretive center at Edgewood. Below are some of the many we’ve heard.
What is Required to Achieve the Goal? With the first phase of construction nearing completion, the Parks Foundation is now undertaking the ambitious goal of raising the remaining $1M to pay for the building and exhibits and to endow initial operations of the Center. The goal isn't just ambitious, it's urgent. If we want the Center open by the March 2007 wildflower walks, the funds must be raised by March 2006. I cannot overstate the importance of receiving continuing generous support from all of you to help make this dream a reality. |
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