Formed in 1972 by voter initiative, the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District is a non-enterprise special district in the San Francisco Bay Area. It has acquired and preserved a regional green belt of open space land and provides opportunities for ecologically-sensitive public enjoyment and education.Its stated mission is:To acquire and preserve a regional greenbelt of open space land in perpetuity; protect and restore the natural environment; and provide opportunities for ecologically sensitive public enjoyment and education.The District, which includes parts of Santa Clara, San Mateo and Santa Cruz Counties, works to form a continuous green belt of permanently preserved open space by linking its lands with other public park lands. A member of the Bay Area Open Space Council, the District also participates in cooperative efforts such as the Bay Trail, Ridge Trail, and Skyline-to-the-Sea Trail, which are regional trail systems in the Bay Area that include District lands.The Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District has permanently preserved over of mountainous, foothill, and bayland open space, creating 26 open space preserves. Of the District's 26 preserves, 24 are open to the public free of charge, 365 days a year from dawn until one-half hour after sunset.The District's tax and voter base consists of about and 741,000 people, mostly in Santa Clara and San Mateo counties. District revenues for fiscal year 2012-2013 were $33 million, with $30.3 million coming directly from a portion of property taxes. The District also occasionally receives state and federal grants, as well as private donations.
