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People for Access to Trails in the Hills at Stanford (PATHS)
PATHS is a coalition of individuals who are petitioning Stanford
not only to dedicate the Dish Area as Open Space (the objective
of Stanford Open Space Alliance, SOSA), but to ensure public access
to the area. We urge Stanford to allow us to enjoy and appreciate
this natural beauty not just from a paved road, but from the earth
paths and trails that abound, to be used in an ecologically sensitive
manner. We urge the university to manage this area for the benefit
of the public, wildlife, and its own academic excellence. And
we urge the Santa Clara County supervisors to act as our advocates
for trail access when voting on Stanford's requested use plan and
building permits. Please sign the petition supporting these steps.
Tell your friends and colleagues. Hand out flyers. Write letters.
Express yourself to the county supervisors. Stand with us as part
of the public presence that loves, respects and uses these hills.
Please read PATHS' Report on a
visit to the Stanford Hills with Resource Management Specialists.
NEW: PATHS's proposal
for a trail planning process for Dish area trails.
| We the undersigned support PATHS and these steps:
1. We request that Stanford rescind its punitive new
regulations restricting public access to the Stanford Hills
("The Dish") as outlined in its Conservation and Use Plan
(issued 5/2/00).
2. With utmost urgency, we request that the public
have access to the Stanford Foothills through a network of
unpaved trails and paths.
3. We request that Stanford map the area using GPS
and GIS technology, make a fair and honest assessment of the
condition of the ecosystem, and host a trail planning process
in which the public, independent resource management experts
and Stanford together create a Master Trail Plan for the Stanford
Hills.
4. We suggest that the university develop a pre-eminent
multi-disciplinary Land Management Program centered around
the restoration of the Stanford Hills for the benefit of the
public and wildlife together. That the university conduct
research on this land in the emerging field of ecological
restoration, becoming a leader in understanding resource management
in urban open space parks.
5. We profoundly hope that Stanford recognize - not
just in dollar value - the enormous resource it has in this
land: as public benefit, fostering goodwill through community
involvement; as research in resource management; as team-building
within local companies through voluntary work projects; as
beauty.
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or Click here for a printable
copy of the petition, then print, sign, and mail that page.
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