Sempervirens Fund to Buy Panorama Ridge Soon to be Added to Castle Rock State Park
Sempervirens Fund will buy a strategic 40 acre property adjacent to Castle Rock State Park to complete trails connecting around the 5,000 acre park
Felton, CA (PRWEB) May 21, 2005 -- Sempervirens Fund, the venerable Los
Altos, CA based land conservancy, announced today that it is purchasing Panorama
Ridge, a critically important 40-acre parcel adjoining Castle Rock State Park.
“Looking at a map of Castle Rock State Park is a little bit like looking
at a huge jigsaw puzzle, with one very important piece missing. That piece is
Panorama Ridge,” says Brian Steen, Sempervirens Fund’s Executive Director.
“Today we are a giant step closer to opening a hiking and riding trail
to connect the Skyline entrance of Castle Rock State Park with trails that will
encircle the entire 5,000-acre park.” observes Steen.
Views from the
ridgetop parcel are spectacular, encompassing a full sweep of vistas from
Monterey Bay to the south, the Big Basin parklands to the west, across the
Pescadero watershed to the north, and all the way to the Pacific
horizon.
Sempervirens Fund has secured the
purchase of the $700,000 parcel with a down payment of $200,000 from its
Opportunity Fund. The Panorama Ridge fundraising campaign aims to complete the
purchase by year-end so the property can be conveyed to Castle Rock State Park.
In a creative purchase deal, Sempervirens Fund worked with the seller to
create a life tenancy agreement allowing the seller to continue living in the
existing house on a 5-acre portion of the property that will remain off-limits
to park visitors.
Sempervirens Fund’s members and supporters can
participate in the Panorama Ridge campaign on photo-trips, hikes, horseback
rides and on trail building crews.
Founded in 1900, Sempervirens Fund’s
purpose is to preserve and protect the natural character of California's Santa
Cruz Mountains and to encourage appropriate public enjoyment of this
environment. Donations are deductible under IRC 501(c)(3). Annual membership
begins at $35.
# # #
Source : http://www.prweb.com/releases/2005/5/prweb242692.htm