Spears Ranch Park

January 26, 2004

Thanks to an innovative public-private partnership, a 960-acre ranch that features pristine blue oak woodlands, a scenic creek and beautiful waterfall, and the home of abundant wildlife will now belong to Placer County residents.

Spears Ranch, located in the Garden Bar area of the foothills between the cities of Lincoln and Auburn, has been purchased by the county with major support from the Trust for Public Lands, the Sierra Business Council and the State of California as part of the County's unique Placer Legacy project.

Spears Ranch will become a county-owned passive park, a place where residents can walk, fish, ride horses, jog, take photos and enjoy outdoor activities. The site will also provide a unique opportunity to blend land conservation and habitat restoration, ranching as well as passive recreational uses.

Robert Weygandt, a member of the Placer County Board of Supervisors, said Spears Ranch is the "flagship" of Placer Legacy. He said it is both an example of the beauty and natural resources the county hopes to preserve, and a model of a public-private partnership the county must replicate to be successful in saving more open space.

The Trust for Public Land (TPL), a national nonprofit land conservation organization, negotiated the purchase of the ranch in 2000 from the Spears family, and in December 2003 conveyed the ranch to Placer County for permanent public protection. Founded in 1972, TPL has protected more than 1.5 million acres nationwide, including more than 50,000 acres of critical watershed, recreation, and forest lands in the Sierra Nevada.

The $3.5 million purchase was made possible through local, state, and federal funding and private philanthropy. The bulk of the funding, $2,220,934, came from the county's Placer Legacy Open Space Trust Fund, which includes public funds set aside over the last three years, and donations from the public and county employees.

The California Department of Parks and Recreation provided more than $204,000 from California's portion of the federal Land and Water Conservation Fund, and $400,000 from the Riparian and Riverine Habitat Grant Program of the 2000 Park Bond Act. The California Resources Agency provided $250,000 from the Sierra Nevada-Cascade Grant Program, also funded through the voter-approved 2000 Park Bond Act.

The Sierra Business Council provided $500,000 for the purchase through a grant from the David and Lucile Packard Foundation's Conserving California Landscapes Initiative (CCLI).

The CCLI grant is part of the Packard Foundation's contribution of $175 million statewide to help conserve 342,000 acres of California's pristine landscapes. The Packard Foundation's support was sought and obtained by the Sierra Business Council. SBC has been a leading non-profit in creating and supporting the Placer Legacy project since its beginning.

"Spears Ranch is a piece of what Placer County has looked like for 10,000 years, and we will now be preserving it forever," said Supervisor Weygandt. "It is in the vision of a Placer County national park. The ranch includes examples of Placer County's spectacular natural resources and amazing habitat in a beautiful and pristine setting.

"It is the realization of a dream we've had and, I hope, an inspiration to make more open space protection possible," Weygandt said.

"The protection of Spears Ranch is key to protecting critical wildlife habitat and adding to public open space in the Sierra Nevada foothills," said Reed Holderman, Executive Director of the Trust of Public Land-California.

"It is only through a tremendous team effort involving Placer County, the State of California, the Sierra Business Council, the David and Lucile Packard Foundation and the Spears family that this remarkable landscape has been protected for future generations," he said.

"This is a landmark purchase, not just for Placer County, but also for the Sierra Nevada," said Jim Sayer, President of the Sierra Business Council. "Placer Legacy is a model for how to protect important natural assets and the local quality of life in the Sierra's fastest growing area. Our business members strongly believe that a successful economy depends upon a healthy environment."

"We are very proud that the State Resources Agency and California State Parks participated in this creative public private partnership," said Mike Chrisman, California Secretary for Resources. We are protecting this beautiful property in Placer County to benefit our environment and for all Californians."

Spears Ranch will open to the public after the county completes a park plan and some capital improvements, hopefully next year.

"We are deeply indebted to all the partners and of course the Spears family who made this wonderful gift to Placer County residents possible," said Board of Supervisors Chairman Harriet White. "Fifty years from now, as our County continues to grow, our residents will celebrate the wisdom of the partners who recognized the importance of preserving this beautiful open space."

The Placer County Board of Supervisors created the Placer Legacy program to conserve open space, and has strongly supported it since its inception in 2000.

The Spears Ranch is the latest property protected through Placer Legacy with its partners, including portions of the Shallenberger Ridge overlooking Donner Lake, a trailhead and open space conservation easement at Moody Ridge, and agricultural conservation easements including Aitken Ranch and the Grey family property in rural Lincoln.

Other acquisitions are being pursued, including land along the south fork of the Yuba River and additional land in the Garden Bar area. Placer Legacy works with willing sellers and is voluntary.

Home > Departments > Facility Services > Parks & Grounds > Parks & Policies > Spears Ranch Park
	Spears Ranch Park January 26, 2004 Thanks to an innovative public-private partnership, a 960-acre ranch that features pristine blue oak woodlands, a scenic creek and beautiful waterfall, and the home of abundant wildlife will now belong to Placer County residents. Spears Ranch, located in the Garden Bar area of the foothills between the cities of Lincoln and Auburn, has been purchased by the county with major support from the Trust for Public Lands, the Sierra Business Council and the State of California as part of the County's unique Placer Legacy project. Spears Ranch will become a county-owned passive park, a place where residents can walk, fish, ride horses, jog, take photos and enjoy outdoor activities. The site will also provide a unique opportunity to blend land conservation and habitat restoration, ranching as well as passive recreational uses. Robert Weygandt, a member of the Placer County Board of Supervisors, said Spears Ranch is the "flagship" of Placer Legacy. He said it is both an example of the beauty and natural resources the county hopes to preserve, and a model of a public-private partnership the county must replicate to be successful in saving more open space. The Trust for Public Land (TPL), a national nonprofit land conservation organization, negotiated the purchase of the ranch in 2000 from the Spears family, and in December 2003 conveyed the ranch to Placer County for permanent public protection. Founded in 1972, TPL has protected more than 1.5 million acres nationwide, including more than 50,000 acres of critical watershed, recreation, and forest lands in the Sierra Nevada. The $3.5 million purchase was made possible through local, state, and federal funding and private philanthropy. The bulk of the funding, $2,220,934, came from the county's Placer Legacy Open Space Trust Fund, which includes public funds set aside over the last three years, and donations from the public and county employees. The California Department of Parks and Recreation provided more than $204,000 from California's portion of the federal Land and Water Conservation Fund, and $400,000 from the Riparian and Riverine Habitat Grant Program of the 2000 Park Bond Act. The California Resources Agency provided $250,000 from the Sierra Nevada-Cascade Grant Program, also funded through the voter-approved 2000 Park Bond Act. The Sierra Business Council provided $500,000 for the purchase through a grant from the David and Lucile Packard Foundation's Conserving California Landscapes Initiative (CCLI). The CCLI grant is part of the Packard Foundation's contribution of $175 million statewide to help conserve 342,000 acres of California's pristine landscapes. The Packard Foundation's support was sought and obtained by the Sierra Business Council. SBC has been a leading non-profit in creating and supporting the Placer Legacy project since its beginning. "Spears Ranch is a piece of what Placer County has looked like for 10,000 years, and we will now be preserving it forever," said Supervisor Weygandt. "It is in the vision of a Placer County national park. The ranch includes examples of Placer County's spectacular natural resources and amazing habitat in a beautiful and pristine setting. "It is the realization of a dream we've had and, I hope, an inspiration to make more open space protection possible," Weygandt said. "The protection of Spears Ranch is key to protecting critical wildlife habitat and adding to public open space in the Sierra Nevada foothills," said Reed Holderman, Executive Director of the Trust of Public Land-California. "It is only through a tremendous team effort involving Placer County, the State of California, the Sierra Business Council, the David and Lucile Packard Foundation and the Spears family that this remarkable landscape has been protected for future generations," he said. "This is a landmark purchase, not just for Placer County, but also for the Sierra Nevada," said Jim Sayer, President of the Sierra Business Council. "Placer Legacy is a model for how to protect important natural assets and the local quality of life in the Sierra's fastest growing area. Our business members strongly believe that a successful economy depends upon a healthy environment." "We are very proud that the State Resources Agency and California State Parks participated in this creative public private partnership," said Mike Chrisman, California Secretary for Resources. We are protecting this beautiful property in Placer County to benefit our environment and for all Californians." Spears Ranch will open to the public after the county completes a park plan and some capital improvements, hopefully next year. "We are deeply indebted to all the partners and of course the Spears family who made this wonderful gift to Placer County residents possible," said Board of Supervisors Chairman Harriet White. "Fifty years from now, as our County continues to grow, our residents will celebrate the wisdom of the partners who recognized the importance of preserving this beautiful open space." The Placer County Board of Supervisors created the Placer Legacy program to conserve open space, and has strongly supported it since its inception in 2000. The Spears Ranch is the latest property protected through Placer Legacy with its partners, including portions of the Shallenberger Ridge overlooking Donner Lake, a trailhead and open space conservation easement at Moody Ridge, and agricultural conservation easements including Aitken Ranch and the Grey family property in rural Lincoln. Other acquisitions are being pursued, including land along the south fork of the Yuba River and additional land in the Garden Bar area. Placer Legacy works with willing sellers and is voluntary.