News!

Community Connections - Ada Márquez

Community Connections highlights the many leaders, partners, and neighbors who make a difference in our community. This month we are featuring Ada Márquez, Open Space Authority and Santa Clara Valley Audubon Society volunteer and environmental studies faculty at San Jose State University.

How to Enjoy the Night Sky from Home

Warm summer nights are here, one of the best times of year to enjoy astronomy!

To get some tips for exploring the night sky, we talked with Swami Nigam, one of the Directors of the San Jose Astronomical Association (SJAA). SJAA is a long-time partner of the Authority, co-hosting many events over the last decade or more, including the regular “Starry Nights” nighttime outings at Rancho Cañada del Oro. 

Celebrating Native Species on California Wildlife Day

Did you know that California has an official a state holiday to celebrate wildlife?

California Wildlife Day was established in 2017 to recognize our state’s diverse and unique ecosystem. This holiday is celebrated each year on the Spring Equinox, or March 21 in 2020, around the time when many native animals emerge from hibernation and migratory species return home.

Local Students Plant a Hedgerow to Help an Organic Farm

What do you get when you bring two buses of enthusiastic elementary school students to an Open Space Authority agricultural property? Environmental restoration on an epic scale!

5 New Year’s Resolutions That Will Improve Your Environmental Wellness

As the new year lies ahead of us, we’ve been thinking about ways we can make positive changes for ourselves and our natural environment this year.

High School Students Lend a Hand to Protect Open Space

“Letting us get out into the environment just lets us be grateful for what we have as well as bonding with other people and appreciating our environment around us.” ”

This October, more than 200 students from San Jose’s Harker School hit the trails at Rancho Cañada del Oro Open Space Preserve to perform important seasonal trail maintenance work while learning about our natural environment and enjoying the outdoors.

Nature: A Prescription for Mental Health

Getting outdoors is not only good for your body - it's also good for your mind!

Each October 10 we recognize World Mental Health Day, designated by the United Nations World Health Organization to raise awareness of mental health issues and promote efforts to improve mental health around the world.

Open Space Authority Volunteers Bring Nature to the Community

“Welcome! Bienvenido! 歡迎! Chào mừng!”

Recognizable by a cheery yellow banner inviting visitors in four languages, the Open Space Authority’s community outreach booth is hard to miss, drawing in neighbors young and old to learn about nature at local festivals and events.

Join us for Palassou Ridge Public-Access Weekend this August

This summer, the Open Space Authority will be opening up the currently by-reservation-only Palassou Ridge preserve just north of Gilroy to members of the public for walking and horseback riding (stayed tuned for a mountain biking-only access day this fall!).

The preserve offers 12 miles of trails to explore at your own pace! 

Celebrating the Beauty of Santa Clara Valley's Open Spaces: Photo Contest Winners!

To celebrate National Nature Photography Day on June 15, we asked photographers of all levels to send us their best shots of Santa Clara Valley's open spaces. And the response was amazing!