When it comes to open space, you often need to save it over and over again. Case in point is Coyote Valley, an expanse of 7,400 acres of greenbelt lands between San Jose and Morgan Hill on the edge of a dense urban landscape. The lands are home to lush farmland and a vast open space preserve, providing an awe-inspiring landscape to explore. It is also sacred, ancestral land to the Amah Mutsun tribal band and Muwekma Ohlone tribe.
For decades, Greenbelt Alliance and our partners have protected Coyote Valley from inappropriate development—from technology campuses to sprawling subdivisions. Not only did we defeat multiple plans to pave over the precious open space land, but we also won new and greater protections and funding through multiple ballot measures and campaigns for the wildlife habitat, rich water resources, and green infrastructure for flood prevention in vulnerable neighborhoods. We are on the verge of permanent protection for these lands partnering with allies and elected leaders like San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo, who is a member of our Board of Directors.
In 2019, the City of San Jose approved a historic $93 million deal to purchase and permanently protect 937 acres of this last-chance landscape. The monumental purchase came on the heels of a huge victory in 2018, jump down the timeline for more history on the fight to protect Coyote Valley. Learn more about this historic deal to protect Coyote Valley here.