Marin Buys 110 Acres For Open Space Preserve

MARIN COUNTY, CA — Marin County has closed a deal to buy 110 acres of private land that will nearly double the size of Old Saint Hilary's Open Space Preserve on the Tiburon Peninsula.

County officials said finalizing the $42.1 million purchase of Easton Point puts an end to more than three decades of uncertainty over whether the parcel estate be subject to development or preserved to be enjoyed as a natural environment. According to the county, the same family owned the property for over a century and agreed to sale terms in 2022, kicking off a two-year fundraising plan.

Voters living within the Tiburon Peninsula Open Space District voted overwhelmingly to approve Measure M the same year, allowing up to $23 million in new bonds to support the purchase.

Here is the county's full breakdown for funding the purchase:

• Approximately $20.76 million from Measure M bonds
• Approximately $2.42 million from 1993 and 1997 bond proceeds
• $6 million from Measure A, the quarter-cent countywide tax measure that supports parks, open space, and sustainable agriculture
• $5.5 million from the California Wildlife Conservation Board
• Approximately $3.295 million from individuals, family and community foundations
• $1.5 million from the California Natural Resources Agency
• $1.5 million from the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation
• $1 million from the Town of Tiburon
• $125,000 from the City of Belvedere

The newly acquired parcel joins the existing Old Saint Hilary's property for a combined 232-acre preserve, bolstering the popular hiking destination for decades and centuries to come. According to Marin County Parks, the new section of the preserve is flanked by an oak woodland that also provides shelter and food for several animal species and native plants.

"It is an honor to be stewards of such a remarkable landscape and to contribute to securing its protection for future generations," said Max Korten, Marin County Parks' director. "Marin County Parks is grateful to work alongside our community and stakeholders to foster a shared sense of stewardship and expand accessible, sustainable recreation opportunities for everyone to enjoy."

The county plans to host a public celebration next month to mark the milestone, with details to be shared in the coming weeks.