PARK l Access to preserve to be unveiled

recent city councils toughened zoning, it was never developed.

Under a deal in 1999, the Peninsula Open Space Trust, a nonprofit group based in Menlo Park, purchased the biggest piece, the 2,428- acre Rancho Cañada del Oro, for $ 6.2 million from Crummerland Ltd., a limited partnership controlled by a Southern California family.

Half of the cost was funded by the David and Lucile Packard Foundation. The rest was split between the city of San Jose, the Santa Clara County parks department and the Santa Clara County Open Space Authority.

The acreage was split also, with 943 acres going to the county to expand Calero park. The remaining 1,485 acres went to the Santa Clara County Open Space Authority, a public agency funded by a $ 12- a- year property tax on residents of San Jose and surrounding communities.

Since then, the authority has bought five other adjacent properties, ranging in size from 28 acres to 728 acres, for $ 7.6 million to assemble the 3,017acre preserve. Hiking and horse riding is allowed.

The trouble was, to get to the preserve before, the public had to hike at least seven miles round trip from trailheads near Calero Reservoir. From the new parking lot, the public has easy access to four miles of preserve trails, and 18 miles of other trails in the 3,476- acre Calero Park.

‘‘ We live in an area that is stressful and full of traffic and commercialism,’’ said Audrey Rust, president of the Peninsula Open Space Trust. ‘‘ We all — individuals, families and groups — need the opportunity to get outside and play somewhere that is not part of that.’’

The landscape has an interesting history.

Because of its timeless look, Hollywood crews filmed the 1988 movie ‘‘ Blood Red’’ in the area. The film, which didn’t get great reviews, tells the story of an 1890s family who moves to California to start a winery. It stars Dennis Hopper and a

then- unknown Julia

Roberts in a bit part.

In the 1800s, a stage

coach line ran along the

site of present- day Casa

Loma Road from Santa

Clara Valley to Santa

Cruz, Congdon said. In

the years ahead, he and

other parks planners

hope to build trails linking the Calero park area to Mount Loma Prieta, Forest of Nisene Marks State Park near Aptos and the coast.

‘‘ Eventually there will be trails from here all the way to the ocean,’’ Congdon said, standing on a knoll this week enjoying the view. Contact Paul Rogers at progers@ mercurynews. com or ( 408) 920- 5045.

Patrick Congdon points out some of the park’s scenic features, which range from oak woodlands to golden eagles to breathtaking views. To get to the preserve before, the public had to hike at least seven miles round trip from trailheads near Calero...

The preserve, two minutes south of Cinnabar Hills Golf Course in South San Jose, sits on the southern flanks of Calero County Park. Laced with old ranch roads and dotted with oaks, the collection of former cattle ranches formed the backdrop of Julia...