Join the Effort – Sign up for Updates
• Gina Hagen, Chair, Oxford Valley Working Group, SVNA@santavenetia.org
Earlier this year, the 28-acre Oxford Valley parcel came on the market for $2.5 million — and a group of Santa Venetia neighbors decided to see whether this rare, undeveloped property could be preserved as open space. Oxford Valley sits adjacent to San Pedro Mountain Preserve, China Camp, and Harry Barbier Park. The land carries deep history — it was part of the Coast Miwok people’s homeland long before Santa Venetia existed, and traces of the historic McMahan estate can still be found on the property today. Ecologically, the valley does real work for our neighborhood: its wetlands, streams, and natural drainage slow rainfall down and let it soak into the ground rather than rushing downstream, easing pressure on our aging levee system during storms. The property also functions as a wildlife corridor linking nearby protected lands and provides habitat for a number of rare and sensitive plant and animal species.
Momentum has been building quickly. On June 3, the SVNA held a community meeting to introduce the idea, and turnout and enthusiasm exceeded anything we’ve seen before —nearly everyone in the room signed up to stay involved. A week later, on June 11, our working group presented to the Marin Conservation League, and their board voted to stand behind the project.
Marin Open Space Trust (MOST) was an early ally, and their board recently voted to formally support us as well. MOST works with agencies such as Marin County Parks to facilitate preservation opportunities like this one — you may have heard of them recently, as they played a key role in protecting the King Mountain property above Larkspur as part of Marin’s Open Space District.
Our working group recently met with Supervisor Mary Sackett make the case for county involvement. It was a substantive, encouraging conversation that touched on the property’s ecological, watershed, and historical value. Supervisor Sackett is looking into next steps on her end, including which county agency might be able to take this on, and potential funding sources such as Measure A.
There’s lots of work ahead, but the level of community support, combined with backing from two highly-respected conservation organizations and a productive relationship with the county, means we are further along than we’ve ever been. We’re continuing to explore every avenue and make the case for why Oxford Valley is worth protecting — not just for its beauty, but its critical role in Santa Venetia’s ecosystem.
If you’d like to learn more, get updates, or join the working group, email us at SVNA@SantaVenetia.org. This is a community effort, and every voice helps show that Oxford Valley matters to the people who live here.
