On Sept. 6, the Martha Property in the Tiburon Open Space was opened for public use as a county park. Marin County Parks and Recreation purchased the Open Space from the developers who owned the property for $42.1 million and turned it into a Marin County Park. The 110-acre property is located on the Southern Tiburon Ridge. With beautiful views and hikes, many students enjoy using the open space.
A group called the Tiburon Open Space Committee, formed in 1988, and originally called the Last Chance Committee, saved the Martha Property. The objective of the Tiburon Open Space Committee was to preserve the space as a county park and stop the development of the previously privately owned land. Jerry Riessen, the President of the Tiburon Open Space committee, played a key role in its preservation.
“I’ve always loved open space and loved nature, and I thought that it was critical to try to find a solution [for the Tiburon Open Space] that didn’t involve [building] 100 houses,” Riessen said.
The preservation of the Martha Property was heavily supported by the neighbors in the area who wanted to make the land available to the public.
“It’s just an awfully large number of people that were involved and played critical roles. [Without their help] we wouldn’t have succeeded at [certain] steps, and the project would likely be difficult and maybe would never have happened,” Riessen said.
Measure M was put on the ballot to authorize $23 million in bonds to acquire the Martha Property, and passed with over an 80 percent ‘yes’ in Tiburon.
Despite the support from the community, there were some challenges with the project.
“There were quite a few [challenges in preserving the property]. A land owner has rights to develop their land, and we couldn’t just say we’d like to not have you build those houses,” Riessen said.
The committee also worked to understand the land, identifying issues such as landslides that made certain areas unsuitable for building, as well as endangered wildlife that needed preservation.
Sophomore Logan Schneidewind lives next to the Open Space, and uses it frequently.
“During [COVID-19], I would walk [in the Open Space] with my family, and we would have picnics, ” Schneidewind said.
Having grown up so close to the Martha Property, the space is very important to Schneidewind.
“I grew up in Tiburon, and it’s always been right next to my house, so I have many childhood memories there,” Schneidewind said.
Schneidewind also thinks that the Open Space is also very important for the community to have.
“Because it’s an open space with no properties on it, it’s a natural part of Tiburon that a lot of people can enjoy,” Schneidewind said.
The ability to use the trails means a lot to the people in Tiburon and neighboring towns. It opens up a place for people to spend their day exploring or to watch a good sunset.
After a 40-year effort to save this land, the Tiburon Open Space is now officially a Marin County Park, but the community’s commitment to this land doesn’t stop there.
“There is a group that was formed 30 years ago or so, called broombusters. Broombusters meets the first Saturday of every month and pulls invasives off of old St Hilary’s open space. That group will continue on the expanded, doubled-in-size Old St. Hilary’s open space,” Riessen said.
In upcoming weeks, volunteers also plan to remove the barbed wire and stake posts on the property.
“For me, the greatest reward is seeing people getting out and enjoying nature, enjoying recreation and enjoying a peaceful experience. I was walking it yesterday, and I met a couple of other folks walking along. The reward is seeing other people enjoying the property and getting so much from it,” Riessen said.
