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The Fairview Open Space is a beautiful site featuring two creeks – one of which includes a series of scenic cascades — as well as steep slopes, open grasslands, forested areas, rock outcrops, and wildlife. The area is just to the north of Motorcycle Hill, bordered by Fairview Drive, Tamalpais Avenue and the houses above on Arlington Boulevard.
Trail Trekkers opposes any development on the site, which is the northernmost and last undeveloped section of El Cerrito’s Hillside. We hope to add the land to the city’s Hillside Natural Area. Fairview Open Space has several acres of relatively flat land near an entry where Fairview Drive and Tamalpais Avenue meet. If the property is added to the Hillside N.A. it would be the only part of the steep Hillside that people of limited mobility could visit. As the city increases housing in its flatlands it is all the more important that our last open spaces be preserved. Trekkers understands that housing is a priority – but so is open space, and there are places in El Cerrito better suited for housing. |
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Preserving Fairview Open Space benefits everyone
These are the benefits of preserving Fairview Open Space:
It would preserve two creeks and riparian habitat. Two streams at either end of the site support such wildlife as deer, coyote, opossum, skunk and raccoon, and a variety of birds and insects. One creek, which flows year-round, contains the most beautiful cascades in the city.
The developer has proposed altering the creeks, moving one, culverting a portion of one, and building a roadway across one.
It would ensure a broad swath of territory for wildlife habitat. Fairview Open Space adjoins the Natural Area, creating a wildlife corridor from the surrounding area that uses the streams as a source of water. Many birds use these resources as part of a flyway. And local red tail hawks, owls and other raptors inhabit the site. El Cerrito is adding many more residences, as are surrounding jurisdictions, making all the more crucial that we preserve unbroken areas of wildlife habitat.
It would provide open space for people, including people with mobility issues. For many years, neighbors and others have used this property for open space recreation, walking, bird watching, and enjoying the views. Fairview provides wonderful schist outcroppings.
Accessibility. Fairview Open Space would provide one amenity that no other part of the 100-acre Hillside Natural Area can ever provide – accessibility to people with mobility problems. No other section of the Hillside offers a level-in trailhead. An accessible, graded trail could allow people with limited mobility to visit the cascades.
How can you help? We are asking organizations and members of the community to show support of open space by signing the statement of support. Also leave us your email to be alerted the news about Fairview. For more information contact Trekker president Dave Weinstein, 510-524-1737, [email protected].
It would preserve two creeks and riparian habitat. Two streams at either end of the site support such wildlife as deer, coyote, opossum, skunk and raccoon, and a variety of birds and insects. One creek, which flows year-round, contains the most beautiful cascades in the city.
The developer has proposed altering the creeks, moving one, culverting a portion of one, and building a roadway across one.
It would ensure a broad swath of territory for wildlife habitat. Fairview Open Space adjoins the Natural Area, creating a wildlife corridor from the surrounding area that uses the streams as a source of water. Many birds use these resources as part of a flyway. And local red tail hawks, owls and other raptors inhabit the site. El Cerrito is adding many more residences, as are surrounding jurisdictions, making all the more crucial that we preserve unbroken areas of wildlife habitat.
It would provide open space for people, including people with mobility issues. For many years, neighbors and others have used this property for open space recreation, walking, bird watching, and enjoying the views. Fairview provides wonderful schist outcroppings.
Accessibility. Fairview Open Space would provide one amenity that no other part of the 100-acre Hillside Natural Area can ever provide – accessibility to people with mobility problems. No other section of the Hillside offers a level-in trailhead. An accessible, graded trail could allow people with limited mobility to visit the cascades.
How can you help? We are asking organizations and members of the community to show support of open space by signing the statement of support. Also leave us your email to be alerted the news about Fairview. For more information contact Trekker president Dave Weinstein, 510-524-1737, [email protected].
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For more, please read Fairview Open Space Frequently Asked Questions
Fairview Open Space is varied and beautiful. Take a look! You can see more of the history of this mission here. To support our efforts, click here. Read more about Fairview on the El Cerrito Hillside Organization (ECHO) Fairview Open Space website here. To learn more about the environmental constraints that would make building on Fairview difficult, click Fairview Estates Development Restrictions Final 04-20-21 (1). To learn more about applicable restrictions, read the Fairview overview of constraints. |
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