Hawthorns Area
of Windy Hill Preserve
Update to PV Parks & Rec Committee
September 19, 2023
Hawthorns Project Vision
The MPOS District will protect and manage natural,
scenic, cultural, and open space resources at the
Hawthorns Area and provide ecologically sensitive
public access consistent with the District’s mission and the allowable uses outlined in the property’s
conservation easement.
Hawthorns Project Goals
● Natural Resources: Protect and restore native habitat and manage for ecological resiliency of aquatic and terrestrial habitat, wildlife connectivity, and other natural resources. ● Public Access: Open the Hawthorns Area to low-intensity public access, provide an internal trail system, and provide multi-modal access to the property. ● Local and Regional Connectivity: Connect to adjacent public trails and explore opportunities for trail connections to regional open space lands.
● Natural & Cultural History: Interpret the rich natural, cultural, and historic features and pursue partnerships to manage the property’s natural and cultural history. ● Aesthetics: Highlight scenic viewpoints and design recreational amenities while protecting scenic viewsheds.
● Operations & Maintenance: Manage the property for safe public access in a fiscally sustainable manner that promotes ongoing public support and appreciation with ongoing public engagement and consistent with the District’s Good Neighbor Policy.
Public Access Working Group
● Focusing on 66 of the 79 total acres. Additional 13 acres regarding the historical buildings site will be addressed later by a different group. ● 13 Voting Members (6 Area Interest Reps, 7 Ward Stakeholders) ● 2 are PV Residents: Helen Quinn and Karen Vahtra
● 2 are Los Trancos Residents: Charlie Krenz and David Smernoff ● Sarah Wernikoff is our Town Council Liaison
Timeline/Schedule
● 5 Total Meetings: 2 have been held, future dates are 10/26, 12/16, with final concept decision on 2/29/24
● Midpen’s PNR Committee to review, concept then presented to PV Liaisons, then Planning Commission
Hawthorns Work Flow
Hawthorns Design Concerns
● Parking - Location(s), Number of Spaces, and Overflow ● Ingress/Egress
● Trail Placement (place PV Alpine Road trail further from road, inside fence) ● Number of Trails & Length
● Placement of Benches, if any
● Connections to other PV Town Trails
● Usage Issues
○ Dog access - leash and/or unleashed
○ Mountain bike use
○ Equestrian Use
○ inclusive access (i.e., trail that can be accessed easily and used by disabled, seniors, and young children MidPen Dog Access Guidelines
On Leash
● Visitors may have no more than three (3) dogs per person. ● Dogs are not allowed in any Midpen water areas, including streams or ponds. ● Dogs must be on a leash 6’ long or less. Self-retracting leashes are allowed with a maximum extended length of 25 feet. Extended leashes must be locked at 6’ when in the presence of other visitors. ● Do not allow dogs to harass wildlife or other visitors. ● Bag and remove dog waste from the preserve by packing it out. Do NOT leave bagged waste at the preserve or outside preserve restrooms.
Off Leash - Pulgas Ridge Open Space Preserve Trail
● Visitors can let their dogs off-leash in the 17.5-acre area located in the center of the preserve, accessible from the Cordilleras Trail, Polly Geraci/Hassler Trails and the Blue Oak Trail. While in this area, visitors must have a leash in their possession and their dog must be under voice control.
● Note: Area is fenced and signed at entrances, but there is no fencing around the off-leash area. Dogs must be on a leash when outside of the off-leash area.
Next Steps/Action Plan
● Karen Vahtra from PAWG to share additional comments.
● Committee discussion tonight on Concept and Concerns, lens on Parks & Rec issues ● Review the PAWG meeting agenda packets from 7/27/23 and 8/26/23 ● https://www.openspace.org/sites/default/files/20230727_PAWG_PACKET.pdf ● https://www.openspace.org/sites/default/files/PAWG%20Mtg%202%20-%20Packet.pdf ● Spread the word! Educate and engage the PV Community. ● Attend the 10/26 and future PAWG meetings. Submit comments, be vocal. ● Liaisons/Town Ad Hoc Committee members are working to set up meetings and utilize other channels to gather, centralize and submit feedback to Midpen to best represent PV ● Stay involved!