Coyote Valley Photo Contest: Meet the People's Choice Winner!

The Open Space Authority's 2024 open house events invited community members to learn all about the latest Understanding Coyote Valley: Existing Conditions Report, provide input on the future planning of the region and vote on their favorite winning photo from the Picturing Coyote Valley photo contest.

Keep scrolling to meet the winner of the photo contest's People's Choice category and view some highlights from the open house events.

People's Choice Winner:
Sunny Mar
"Cattle's Best Friend"

Congratulations to Sunny Mar, the winner of the People's Choice category from the Picturing Coyote Valley photo contest. The photo, taken at Coyote Valley Open Space Preserve, was also the winner of the contest's Agriculture category.  

Sunny Mar, the winner of the People's Choice and Agriculture categories of the Picturing Coyote Valley photo contest stands next to his photo at the Understanding Coyote Valley Open House in Morgan Hill on August 16, 2024.


The Understanding Coyote Valley Open House in Morgan Hill took place during the Morgan Hill Community & Cultural Center's Friday Night Music Series. Attendees learned about the findings from recent studies completed throughout Coyote Valley by engaging with Open Space Authority staff and, later, enjoyed music from a local band. 

The Peninsula Open Space Trust (POST) was in attendance to share more information about the importance of wildlife connectivity and planning for wildlife crossings in Coyote Valley.

The Open Space Authority's District 4 Director, Garnetta Annable, and Gavin Comstock (both right), along with two interpreters, talk to attendees of the Vietnamese American Services Center's (VASC) Mid-Autumn Festival. This was the location of the second Understanding Coyote Valley Open House on September 7, 2024. 

Families who attended VASC's Mid-Autumn Festival stopped by the Understanding Coyote Valley Open House to learn more about the Coyote Valley landscape and participate in fun art activities with the Open Space Authority's Teri Rogoway (left).

Attendees of the Open Space Authority's Understanding Coyote Valley Open House at VASC's Mid-Autumn Festival cast their votes for the Picturing Coyote Valley photo contest's People's Choice winner.

The Open Space Authority's Lena Eyen (left) chats with a guest at the third in-person Understanding Coyote Valley Open House which took place at the Santa Teresa Branch Library on September 24, 2024.

Teri Rogoway (right) and Naomi (left), a volunteer from Silicon Valley Youth Climate Action, hosted a "Critters of Coyote Valley" puppet program for families who attended the third Understanding Coyote Valley Open House. 

Jennifer Peth, of the Open Space Authority, chats with an attendee of the Understanding Coyote Valley Open House at the Santa Teresa Branch Library about the past, current and future transportation projects taking place across the Coyote Valley region. 

Are you interested in learning more about Coyote Valley, but were unable to attend an Open House?

The Open Space Authority invites you to:

• Read this one-page summary of Understanding Coyote Valley
• Read the full Understanding Coyote Valley report
• Watch the Understanding Coyote Valley webinar on YouTube here
• View the posters that were presented at each Open House 
• You can also stay up-to-date on all plans for Coyote Valley by clicking here and subscribing to the e-newsletter.