A passion for preserves

Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District’s Public Affairs Program Coordinator Carmen Lau extends her hand towards a little girl, showing her how to pet the taxidermied gray fox with the back of her hand. The fox perches atop its wooden mount, positioned as part of the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District’s display. The Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District, which she refers to as “Midpen,” contains 26 park preserves in San Mateo, Santa Clara and Santa Cruz County that provide places for people to hike and explore. Many of the preserves also offer guided hikes for those who are uncomfortable with exploring new trails and want the expertise of a docent. Among the 26 preserves, Rancho San Antonio and Monte Bello are familiar names to many Cupertino residents.

But for Lau, her favorite preserve is a bit farther away, near Half Moon Bay: the Purisima Creek Redwoods. The park’s towering California Redwoods sets it apart in her mind from the other preserves. Lau started working at Midpen two and a half years ago, and is now the Public Affairs Program Coordinator. Aside from festivals like this one, Midpen visits schools and employee events with the goal of reaching out to inform others about the beautiful preserves that offer various activities and in the case of Rancho San Antonio, even flying model airplanes. At the festival, Lau’s goals were simple. She wanted nothing more than for people who came by to pick up the brochures and maps offered at the booth and explore one of the preserves.

“It’s just trying to get the word out and spread the word about our open spaces,” Lau said.

Long after the Earth Day festival is over, Lau plans on staying active in the community in hopes that someone else will learn about them and venture into the preserves that she’s come to love.