Wall Property, Fairfax; photo by Elizabeth Byers
Huge New Open Space Acquired
Adjacent to San Anselmo
Wall Property Conveyed to Fairfax
Fairfax, Bald Hill Mt. Tam, photo by Elizabeth Byers
The last few years have seen some stunning successes in protecting open space in the Ross Valley— Sky Ranch (16 acres) in 2015, Bald Hill (60 acres) in 2023, Upper Hawthorne Canyon (10 acres) in 2024, and now the Wall property, at almost 100 acres.
The Wall property, just above Marinda Oaks in northeastern Fairfax, is a large horseshoe- shaped parcel formerly owned by prominent San Francisco heart surgeon Charles Allen Wall, MD. For decades, the San Anselmo and Fairfax Open Space Committees worked to protect this amazing property on the border between the two towns. In 2013, Dr. Wall’s estate sold the land to Marshall Rothman for $1.75M. Rothman soon submitted plans to develop ten large homes. The project fell into bankruptcy and the land went up for auction in March 2023. The Marin Open Space Trust (MOST) stepped in and, in consultation with the Fairfax Town Council, agreed to buy the property for $2.3M. Considerable extra costs were identified for geotechnical studies, appraisals, legal counsel, remediation, and ongoing maintenance, raising the total amount needed to $2.9M.
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Your San Anselmo Open Space Committee contributed $25K. The full amount was raised in just a few months. In May 2024, the Fairfax Town Council agreed to accept the property at no cost from MOST. Marin County Open Space agreed to maintain the trails on the property. The Wall parcel includes three prominent ridgelines, one rising to 720 feet and providing beautiful views of the valley and the City. It is covered with sunny grasslands and chaparral, broken up by shady forests of oak, madrone, bay laurel, buckeye and big-leaf maple. Home to numerous types of wildlife, it serves as a corridor for animals to move freely between open spaces in Fairfax and San Anselmo.
It is immediately adjacent to San Anselmo’s 45-acre Hawthorne Canyon Open Space Preserve. Together, the two preserves forever protect 145 acres of unspoiled wild lands, by far the largest open space preserve in the Ross Valley. The Open Space Committees of Fairfax and San Anselmo, all unpaid volunteers, worked together to help achieve this wonderful outcome, and will coordinate ongoing efforts to maintain and protect these newest preserves.
In September, local philanthropist Ted Bright donated $1M to the project, putting us over the top in more ways than one. The project is now fully funded for both the acquisition and future maintenance. Thank you, Ted! The sale closed September 30.
Those of you who have contributed to the San Anselmo Open Space Committee over the years can take pride in the fact that your generosity has helped make this achievement possible. Future generations will thank you. The job is done; now go out and explore what you helped to save. —Brian Crawford
View to the west, photo by Elizabeth Byers
Gay Kagy
Open Space Committee founding member Gay Kagy passed away in August.
Gay was instrumental in convincing the Town Council to create the Open Space Committee in 1981. Over many decades, Gay was a powerful advocate for protecting
the Town’s hillsides, ridges and open space. Gay was an avid gardener and for many years maintained a garden plot in the Robson Harrington community garden. Her natural artistic sense found expression in music, poetry, flower arranging and gourmet cooking. —Jonathan Braun
32nd Annual Benefit Returns
After five "long" years, the Committee's Annual Benefit for Open Space returned to our favorite venue, St. John’s Church in Ross. Featuring acclaimed author and artist, Obi Kaufmann, the audience was led through a swift adventure across the eons, examining vast geological changes of destruction and rebirth of what now is called California.
What struck me the most about this gathering was the chance for so many volunteers to meet face- to-face over a glass of wine and appetizers.
These volunteers have shaped the face of the Ross Valley over the last forty years. Susan Beran, Chair of the Fairfax Open Space Committee, mentioned how she was emboldened by the activism and dedication of another attendee, Barbara Smith: Barbara was instrumental in organizing the neighbors to preserve Lower Hawthorne Canyon in the 1990’s. Today, the Fairfax Open Space Committee can lay claim to saving the Wall property, another 100 acres for open space!
When I looked around the hall that night, filled with supporters, as well as current and past open space members, I saw those who had the dream, courage, and perseverance to save over
250 acres in the Ross Valley, including iconic Bald Hill, for perpetuity. That certainly is something to celebrate! —Kathy Sanders
Photo by Christiana Conser
Photo by Kathy Sanders
Bugs and Dinosaurs on Parade
The San Anselmo Community Parade finally returned this last September, and the Open Space Committee was certain to attend, as tradition requires. Festooned in red carnations, white peonies and 45 dinosaur footprints, the 1963 VW Beetle also carried one 61⁄2 foot tall green T-Rex and two kids, Avi and Tala. The theme, of course, was “Saving Open Space from Extinction!"While the T-Rex proved to be a major draw, as soon as candy was spotted, the Beetle was quickly swarmed by many enthusiastic children. We were lucky to get out alive.
photo by Christopher Tonry
Open Space Forever
What are a few of your favorite things about San Anselmo?
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Most people would list the spectacular views and proximity to nature. What do all these things have in common? Open space! More than just a pretty view, our San Anselmo open space helps to preserve native habitat and provides vital migration corridors for wildlife.
Since 1981, the San Anselmo Open Space Committee has acquired over 10 acres of open space, to be conserved in perpetuity! What funds this effort? Your donations! We are still celebrating our most recent acquisitions, Bald Hill and Upper Hawthorne Canyon, which were funded by the support of our generous donors. With your continued support we can continue to acquire open space—preserving the views and nature we all love.
Please donate to help us continue
this important work!