Edgewood County Park facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Edgewood Park & Natural Preserve
Trail with fog rolling over the mountains
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Location	San Mateo County, California
Nearest city	Redwood City
Area	467 acres (189 ha)

Edgewood County Park and Natural Preserve is a special protected area in San Mateo County, California, United States. It covers about 467 acres of land. This park is famous for its beautiful wildflower displays that bloom every spring. Around 50,000 people visit Edgewood Park each year to enjoy nature.

Discovering Edgewood Park's Nature

Edgewood Park is home to many different kinds of plants and animals. It has a unique type of soil called serpentine soil. This soil is special because it has high levels of certain minerals. Many rare and native plants grow really well in this soil.

Habitats and Wildlife

The park has several different natural areas, called habitats. These include open grasslands, dense chaparral, coastal scrub, and woodlands with trees. There are also small wetland areas. Over 500 different plant species live here. Some of these plants are very rare. Three species are even listed as endangered or threatened by the government. This means they are at risk of disappearing forever.

Edgewood Park is also a home for the Bay checkerspot butterfly. This beautiful butterfly is also a threatened species. Protecting the park helps these special creatures survive.

Waterways and Ecosystems

On the northwestern side of the park, you can find small streams. These streams flow into Cordilleras Creek. On the southwestern side, Laguna Creek begins its journey. These waterways are important for the park's ecosystem.

Edgewood Park has almost all the main natural areas found on the San Francisco Peninsula. The only type of forest missing is a redwood forest. This makes the park a great place to see many different California landscapes in one spot.

The Story of Edgewood Park

For many years, people wanted to build different things on the land that is now Edgewood Park. These ideas started way back in 1967. Some thought about building a college, a sports complex, or even a golf course.

How the Park Was Saved

In 1979, San Mateo County bought the land from California. It cost about $2 million at the time. The county leaders still planned to build an 18-hole golf course. They even approved a plan for it in 1982.

But in 1983, a group called the California Native Plant Society (CNPS) took legal action. They wanted to protect the sensitive plant habitats. They reached an agreement that said special areas would be protected.

Protecting Rare Species

Things changed even more when important species were recognized. In 1987, the Bay checkerspot butterfly was declared a threatened species. Then, in 1988, a special type of harvestman (a creature similar to a spider, often called a "daddy-longlegs") found only in Edgewood Park was also recognized as needing protection.

By 1992, two-thirds of Edgewood Park were set aside as a natural preserve. The remaining one-third was still considered for the golf course. However, a study showed that the flat areas suitable for a golf course were also where the protected species lived.

Becoming a Natural Preserve

Finally, in the summer of 1993, the County Board of Supervisors made a big decision. They declared the entire Edgewood County Park a Natural Preserve. This important declaration meant the whole park would be protected from any future building or development. It ensures that the park's unique plants and animals can thrive for years to come.

Gallery

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  Storm clearing over hillside

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  Springtime fields of color

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  Gold nuggets

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  Layia platyglossa

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  Ithuriel's spear

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  California state flower (golden poppy) and state rock (serpentine)

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  Lupinus formosus

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  Clarkia rubicunda

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  Torch lily