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Friends of Santa Teresa Park 

Chris Horii at Trail Day with the FOSTP sign

 

The Friends of Santa Teresa Park is a volunteer organization based in San Jose whose purpose is to support Santa Teresa County Park. The president is Mike Boulland. Meetings are normally held the first Thursday of each month. Check for schedule changes below. The public is invited. Typical meeting topics include park news, history, trail conditions, community issues, volunteer opportunities, and future plans. 

Our meetings are usually held on the first Thursday of the month at 7 pm. Our meetings are normally held at the Santa Teresa Golf Club upper clubhouse/banquet room (on top of the hill) at 260 Bernal Road, San Jose.  We don't know when we'll have meetings there again. Due to the COVID-19 shutdown and until further notice, we have been having virtual meetings only, using Zoom video conferencing. Send an email request to fostp@stpfriends.org to get the Zoom meeting link. (Download and install Zoom if you haven't already.) Our next virtual meeting will be on Thursday, July 7, 2022 at 7:00 pm.

Here are Orders from the Santa Clara County Public Health Department. These are frequently changing, so check for the latest updates.

We have been having volunteer cleanup work days at Santa Teresa Park, usually on the first Friday of each month. We meet in front of the ranch house at the Bernal-Gulnac-Joice Ranch on Manila Drive at 9:00 am. See the latest news for past work days. The next work day will tentatively be on July 1, 2022. Contact us at fostp@stpfriends.org if you're interested in helping out.

Minutes from past meetings are available below. See the meeting minutes for park news and upcoming events.

 See you Thursday night,
 Mike Boulland

For more information on the Friends of Santa Teresa Park, contact Mike Boulland.

Like us on our Facebook page.
For questions on the stpfriends.org website, contact our webmaster, Ron Horii.

For County Parks volunteers, enter your volunteer hours here. This is the new Samaritan sytem. Contact the County Parks Volunteers Office for access information and instructions.



Mike Boulland greeting ranger on Stile Ranch Trail

Greetings from Mike Boulland:

The Friends of Santa Teresa Park welcome you and your family to our web page. We welcome you to participate in our service activities to make Santa Teresa Park a gem in the Santa Clara County Park system. Please use this web page to find out about our various activities. 

We invite you to explore and walk in the evening after work along the foothill trails to visit some of the most scenic sites in the entire Santa Clara Valley. Hopefully, you will visit our majestic waterfall trail and eat a snack at its base. Included, in our invitation is a walk to the upper meadows. We encourage you to sit in the shade of the Pueblo area and enjoy watching the various wildlife animals graze on the wild vegetation. Those of you who like views may take an enjoyable hike up Coyote Peak to get a vista view of the whole county. The trail’s scenic views can stretch the boundaries of your eye from San Mateo to Morgan Hill. 

We encourage you to use our web site to help you and your family gain information about our activities and events. We are a growing organization, whose members are dedicated to improving Santa Teresa County Park’s resources for the public to enjoy. 

Join us on our trail building day events, historical adventures, docent activities and other park service projects. We welcome all the volunteers we can muster. In the future we will need lots of volunteers to help us establish a docent program for the Joice-Bernal Museum site. 

Our organization is recognized with the County of Santa Clara Volunteer program and we can offer you and your family an opportunity to volunteer for fun service and be rewarded with a free County Parks parking pass. 

We meet monthly on the first Thursday night at 7:00 in the upper Santa Teresa Golf Course Upper Clubhouse/Banquet Facility. 

Mike Boulland 
President of Friends of Santa Teresa Park

Vision Statement: Our Vision is to help protect, enhance, maintain and restore Santa Teresa Park and the surrounding neighborhood through education, volunteer involvement, coordination, and communications with the Santa Clara County Parks and Recreation Department Staff, the City of San Jose, and the greater community.


News 2020-2021

FOSTP at Santa Teresa Library Anniversary 2/5/11

  • See here for archived news from 2010-2017.
  • See here for archived news from 2018-2019.
  • Jump to 2021 news
  • Jump to 2022 news
  • For the second year in a row, the Friends of Santa Teresa Park were invited to come to Oakridge Mall's Senior Resource Fair on 2/21/20. Steve Crockett and Mike Boulland staffed the table with information about FOSTP, Santa Teresa Park, and the New Almaden Ting (pavilion) project  The picture posters are by Ron Horii.
    FOSTP at Oakridge Mall Senior Fair, 2/21/20

  • On March 12, 2020, the Health Officer of Santa Clara County issued a shelter-in-place order because of COVID-19. We were planning to lead another pre-Mother's Day hike in Santa Teresa Park on the Stile Ranch, Mine, and Fortini Trails on May 9, 2020. Ron Horii was planning to teach another photography class and lead a hike in Santa Teresa Park's Bernal Ranch on May 16, 2020. Both events were cancelled due to the COVID-19 shutdown. All volunteer activities and events in the County Parks are cancelled or postponed until further notice. The volunteer recognition event that was supposed to be in April was postponed until September, but is now cancelled. Our National Night Out in Santa Teresa Park, originally scheduled for August 4, 2020 was cancelled. La Fuente/Fandango and similar events will probably not occur this year because of personnel changes in the park interpretive department.
  • During the COVID-19 shelter-in-place order, people are still allowed to go outside for exercise, such as walking, hiking, running, and biking. Trails in the County Parks are open, but users need to practice social distancing, keeping at least 6 feet apart from other people not in the same household. There are signs at the trailheads about these social distancing rules.
    COVID-19 signs

  • Social distancing is easier to practice on wide trails vs. narrow trails. Below is a Santa Teresa County Park map with the wide trails highlighted. Click on the small image below for a larger map. Note that only parts of some trails are wide. (Note that this was made by Ron Horii and is his personal opinion, not an official park map.)
    Santa Teresa Park Wide Trails Map

  • During the COVID-19 shutdown, parking fees in all County Parks, including Santa Teresa, are not being collected. Note that parking is not allowed on Bernal Road from Heaton Moor to the IBM gates. There is a small parking lot just before the IBM gates, but no parking is allowed on the road near it.
    Parking fee machine shutdown

  • While County Park trails are open, other park facilities are closed. These include visitor centers, picnic areas, playgrounds, and drinking fountains.
    Picnic table closure at the Bernal Ranch

  • During the start of the COVID-19 shutdown, the golf course and archery range in Santa Teresa Park were closed. They have since been reopened, but with significant safety protocols. Here are the safety protocols for the Santa Teresa Golf Club. Here are the protocols for the archery range.
    Santa Teresa Golf Club Clubhouse Signs

  • The Koopman Family made this gorgeous video of Santa Teresa Park. Greg Koopman did the videography and text labels. Vanessa Koopman did the video editing. Roxanne Koopman inspired the production.
  • On 6/4/20, there was a fire in the Santa Teresa Hills. It started in the hills above Colleen and Chesbro. It was named the Colleen Fire. It was allegedly caused by arson. A suspect was detained. The Greystone neighborhood in the Almaden Valley was evacuated. No houses were damaged by the fire. Part of the land that burned was owned by the Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority. See this Facebook album for pictures of the aftermath of the fire.
    Colleen Fire aftermath

  • On 6/25-26/20, there was a prescribed burn in the Pueblo Area of Santa Teresa Park. This was in conjunction with the San Jose Fire Department, who used it as a training exercise. The city published this notice about it: "The purpose of this training is to instruct our recruit firefighters in wildland firefighting practices. This live-fire training is consistent with previous exercises the San José Fire Department has conducted in the park, allowing recruit firefighters to utilize specialized tools and equipment, personal protective equipment, and employ wildland suppression strategies and tactics in a controlled setting. Impacts of the training exercise on the surrounding area are expected to be minimal. Benefits to the areas being burned include removal of non-native, invasive species of plants, such as the star thistle. Park visitors are advised that the Mine Trail south of Bernal Road will be closed as well as the Pueblo Trail and the connector trail between Pueblo and Mine Trail. The Pueblo day use area and the road to the equestrian lot will also be closed." Here are Facebook albums (Facebook sign-in required) with pictures of the fire training and its aftermath: Firefighter Training, Santa Teresa Park Part 1, 6/25/20, Firefighter Training, Santa Teresa Park Part 2, 6/26/20, Aftermath of Prescribed Burn, Santa Teresa Park, 6/27/20.
    Firefighters in Pueblo Area, 6/25/20

  • While organized group events in the County Parks and open space preserves have been suspended due to COVID-19, videos and Zoom conferences are available from various organizations. Here are some examples (note: Facebook sign-in may be required):
  • On 8/19/20, there was a small vegetation fire at the corner of Curie Drive and San Ignacio Avenue along the base of the Coyote Alamitos Canal. This is part of the Santa Teresa Park Historic Site, which is not open to the public yet. It is across the street from Bernal Interemediate School. The fire came close to the historic buildings on the site, but the San Jose Fire Department brought the blaze under control before any structures could be damaged.
    Curie Fire, 8/19/20

  • New Park Interpreter Rob McDonnell, assigned to Santa Teresa Park's Bernal Ranch, made this video about the ranch, telling about its history. On 8/20/20, he gave a longer presentation called "Santa Teresa Spring Across Generations." He talked more about the history of Rancho Santa Teresa and the Bernal, Gulnac, and Joice Families that lived there.
  • Author Jenny Clendenen, who lives in the Almaden Valley, wrote a book called MINE. It's about Maria Zacarias Bernal de Berreyesa, who was the daughter of Jose Joaquin Bernal, founder of Rancho Santa Teresa. She married Jose de los Reyes Berreyesa, owner of neighboring Rancho San Vicente. Here's how Jenny describes her book: "MINE is about a Spanish matriarch of early San Jose whose family helped settle the entire Bay Area. María Zacarías Bernal de Berreyesa lost ten of eleven beloved men, the Almaden mines, and her south San José ranch to Americans after the Gold Rush. For the last thirty years her personal history and mine have shared the same league of land in the Almaden Valley, and I felt her presence there long before I 'met' her." Here's more about the book on Jenny's website. It's available on Amazon. There was an online interview with Jenny Clendenen about her book, hosted by the Peninsula Open Space Trust and the Santa Clara County Parks on October 2, 2020 from 12-1pm. You can view the interview on Youtube.
    Mine by Jenny Clenenden

  • Because of the pandemic shutdown, we have been unable to have regular in-person meetings. Starting in April, we have been having Zoom virtual meetings. In our January 7, 2021 meeting, we invited and talked with Blair Pagano (see below). She is the new Volunteer Coordinator for the County Parks' Volunteer Program. You can read about our discussion with her on volunteer opportunities and procedures in the meeting minutes.
    FOSTP Zoom meeting with Blair Pagano

  • There's a new bike repair station at the Hidden Springs Trailhead in the Pueblo Day Use Area. It's called a Fixit by Dero. The Fixit unit has hanger arms on top, which allow hanging the bike with both wheels off the ground to make it easier to do wheel repairs and adjustments. It has an air pump and attached tools. The air pump doesn't have a pressure gauge, so you'll have to bring your own gauge or guess at the air pressure by the firmness of the tire. Here are the online instructions. 
    Bike repair station

  • There is a new viewing bench along the Joice Trail, near the PG&E tower service roads. It was donated by the Hunter Family and says "Do what makes you happy." It has a panoramic view of the Bay Area and the Santa Teresa Hills.
    Viewing bench on the Joice Trail

  • There is a new trail plan in Santa Teresa Park's Historic Area that was recently approved by the Board of Supervisors. It is currently out for bid. It runs from Santa Teresa Spring to San Igacio Ave. near Curie Drive. Park Director Don Rocha described it in his report to the Park Commission: "The scope of the project will consist of the following improvements: an 8-foot wide, graded, dirt/gravel trail along Manila Drive, continuing through the historic site of the former Jacoba Bernal property, and ending at the corner of Curie Drive and San Ignacio Boulevard. Spur trails consisting of two 5-foot wide decomposed granite trails will connect the residential sidewalk along Curie Drive to the 8-foot wide trail, and another to the corner of Curie Drive and San Ignacio Boulevard. In addition to the trail construction, other amenities include security gates, split-rail fencing, wire fencing, chain-link fencing and barricades, and relocation of the Bear Tree Monument to an area along the interior trail, closer to the Bear Tree." It partially implements the original trail plan shown in the 2009 site plan. It goes closer to Curie and does not go to the back of the property. Here is a notice about the construction project that was distributed to the neighborhood. Below is a map showing the new trails. Click on it for a bigger picture:
    New Trail Plan

  • There are new signs in the County Parks. They replace the flip-down signs that say the trails are temporarily closed to equestrian and bicycle use due to wet trail conditions. The signs are posted at the entry to the park and trailheads. They are used during the rainy season. All trails are closed after measurable rain and are reopened after they dry sufficiently. This is to prevent damage to trails. Unfortunately, many bicyclists ignore the signs, don't see them, or don't read them because they are too wordy. This is what the old sign looked like:
    •
    Old trail closure sign

  • This is the new trail closure sign. It's very simple and direct, without a lot of fine print. Whether this is more effective than the old signs is yet to be seen. With the lack of rain, the signs haven't gotten much use.
    New trail closure sign

  • There are signs posted by the park entrance on Bernal Road, by the entry gate to the Pueblo Area, and by the parking meter parking lot. They announce that the $6.00 vehicle entry fees for the County Parks, which have been suspended during the pandemic, will be reinstated starting April 5, 2021. Fees are required to park in the Pueblo Day Use area, but not at other Santa Teresa Park entrances, including the tiny Mine Trail parking lot on Bernal Road. Fees are collected at County Parks that have developed facilities, like Vasona, Hellyer, Martial Cottle, Mt. Madonna, Sanborn, Grant, Ed Levin, etc. All of the ones that charge fees have much more extensive amenities than Santa Teresa. Usage of the Pueblo Area increased dramatically during the pandemic, when parking was free. How park usage will be affected by the reinstatement of the fees has yet to be seen. This is an old issue. Parking meters were installed in April, 2000. Ron Horii created a webpage about this in 2001. A lot has changed since then, such as the opening of the Open Space Authority preserves, the Rancho San Vicente entrance to Calero, and the Coyote Creek Visitor Center, all of which have free parking. The Friends of Santa Teresa Park have concerns about this issue and will be observing the impact of the parking fees on park usage.
    • Parking fee sign

  • There is a new memorial bench below Santa Teresa Spring. The plaque on the bench says, "Forever at play in Daddy's park. In loving memory Avery Willow Celaya." The area was cleared of blackberry vines and landscaped around the bench. There are decorative rocks placed, and a willow tree was planted. The outlet of Santa Teresa Spring, leading into a culvert, was lined with rocks. Picture taken 3/30/21:
    •
    Memorial bench by Santa Teresa Spring

  • On Friday, 4/2/21, FOSTP members had their first monthly work day at Santa Teresa Park. They went to the Bernal-Gulnac-Joice Ranch and cut weeds in front of the ranch house.
    • FOSTP work day at Bernal-Gulnac-Joice Ranch, 4/2/21

  • During our May 6, 2021 meeting, we had a special presentation by Teri Rogoway, Educational Programs Coordinator for the Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority. She gave a presentation about the OSA, how it responded to the pandemic, and partnership opportunities. This was the flyer for the meeting. Santa Teresa Park is very close to the Coyote Valley, which has a lot of recently-purchased and preserved land (see below). There may be opportunities for FOSTP to do activities in partnership with the OSA, which has a grant program.
    •
    Coyote Valley Conserved Areas

  • In 1996, at the same time the Clampers installed the monument at the Bear Tree Lot, a time capsule was buried next to it. It was assembled by students from Mike Boulland's 4th grade class at Baldwin School. The Clampers buried it next to the monument. In anticipation of the relocation of the Bear Tree Lot monument, as part of the Curie Drive trail construction, the Friends of Santa Teresa Park unearthed the time capsule on 5/28/21. It will be unveiled and possibly re-buried when the construction project is complete and the area is re-opened.
    Time capsule recovery, Bear Tree Lot, 5/28/21

  • The Friends of Santa Teresa Park had a trail work day at Santa Teresa Spring on 6/4/21. They cut brush blocking views of the spring from the viewing platform and cut vines and removed dirt from in front of the spring's font and shrine. Here are pictures from that work day.
    Santa Teresa Spring Cleanup, 6/4/21

  • Construction of the new trails along Curie Drive has begun. This is from 6/4/21. Construction fences have been put up along the project from Curie Drive near Korhummel to San Ignacio Avenue. Crews started putting up internal fences and marking off the trail route.
    Trail construction, 6/4/21

  • On Saturday, 6/5/21, the ranch house and west barn at the Bernal-Gulnac-Joice Ranch were open to the public for the first time since March of 2020. They will also be open on Fridays and Sundays as park staff become available. There is a list of COVID-19 safety protocols posted. The doors of the house and barn are left open for ventilation. Only one household at a time can be inside. Everyone over 6 years old must wear a mask. They will go in through one door and come out the other. A wheelchair ramp is at the exit of the barn. Hand sanitizers are inside the house and barn. The east barn is still closed.
    Ranch House opening, 6/5/21

  • On 7/1-2/21, the San Jose Fire Department, in conjuction with the County Parks, held a training exercise for newly-recruited firefighters, with a controlled burn in the Pueblo Day Use Area of Santa Teresa Park. They have been doing this annually. Here are pictures from the exercise.
    •
    Firefighter training, 7/1/21

  • On 7/2/21, members of the Friends of Santa Teresa Park, Mike and Dorene Boulland, Youngmee Kim, and Ron Horii, continued cleanup work at Santa Teresa Spring. They removed mud and vines from the rocks and stone structures at the spring, and cleared dirt, leaves and vines from the cistern. Here are pictures of the cleanup.
    Santa Teresa Spring Cleanup, 7/1/21

    Santa Teresa Spring cleanup, 7/1/21

    Santa Teresa Spring cleanup, 7/1/21

  • On 8/6/21, members of the Friends of Santa Teresa Park, Mike Boulland, Youngmee Kim, Marilyn August, Joan Murphy and Ron Horii, had a work day at the Bernal-Gulnac-Joice Ranch. They removed dead plants and pulled weeds in the garden boxes, pulled weeds from around the ranch house, and trimmed the trees. Here are pictures from that event.
    Garden box cleanup, 8/6/21

    Workday group at the BGJ Ranch, 8/6/21

  • The ranch house and west barn at the Bernal-Gulnac-Joice Ranch is open. On Fridays and Saturdays, Park Interpreter Rob McDonnell is there (see 8/20/20 above). On Sundays, new staffer Katrina Semene is minding the store. Here's Katrina and the ranch hours:
    Katrina Semene at the Bernal Ranch house

    BGJ Ranch hours

  • Patrick Joice passed away on 8/18/21. He was the last of the Bernal Family descendants who owned Rancho Santa Teresa. He sold the ranch to IBM, which later sold it to Santa Clara County. The ranch he lived and worked in is now the Bernal-Gulnac-Joice Ranch. He came to many park events at the ranch. This is him at the Family Fandango on 8/1/09. The last time he came to a public event at the ranch was at La Fuente in 2018. He brought his family and memorabilia and talked to people about his life growing up on the ranch. Patrick's grandfather, also named Patrick Joice, married Susan Gulnac, who was the daughter of Carlos Gulnac and Rufina Bernal. Rufina's grandfather was Jose Joaquin Bernal, founder of Rancho Santa Teresa. Here's an interview of Patrick Joice.
    Patrick Joice at Fandango, August 1, 2009

  • This memorial bench is on the Joice Trail, just before it turns left under the Vista Loop Trail. This picture is from 8/31/21, so it was installed sometime before then. It says, "In Memory of Frank 'Carl' Ginzel, April 1, 1958-January 20, 2021, Donated Lovingly by Friends."
    Memorial bench on the Joice Trail, 8/31/21

  • On 9/10/21, Friends of Santa Teresa Park members Mike Boulland, Woody Collins, Marilyn August, Youngmee Kim, Joan Murphy, and Ron Horii had a work day at the Bernal-Gulnac-Joice Ranch. They continued weeding the garden boxes, pruned bushes, and whacked down the grass on the flagstone path in front of the ranch house. Here are pictures from that work day.
    Work Day, Bernal-Gulnac-Joice Ranch, 9/10/21

  • On 9/14/21, there was an event at the Bernal-Gulnac-Joice Ranch. Park Interpreter Rob McDonnell gave a presentation about kingsnakes, using a live snake named Morticia from Martial Cottle Park's visitor center. Rob talked about kingsnakes, their physical characteristics, life cycle, diet, how they move, how they hunt and eat prey, coloration, skin, and relation to their environment. There were over 30 people who showed up, mostly families. Rob answered lots of questions from kids. This was the first in-person interpretive event in Santa Teresa Park by park staff since the start of the pandemic shutdown last March. Here are pictures of the event.
    Rob McDonnell and Kingsnake

  • On 10/1/21, Friends of Santa Teresa Park members Mike Boulland, Youngmee Kim, Joan Murphy, and Ron Horii had a work day at the Bernal-Gulnac-Joice Ranch. They continued weeding the butterfly garden box, removed blackberry vines and other weeds from the front of the ranch house (pictured), trimmed bushes, and swept up leaves. Here are pictures of the work day.
    Cleanup in front of the ranch house, 10/1/21

  • On 11/5/21, Friends of Santa Teresa Park members Mike Boulland, Youngmee Kim, Greg Koopman, and Ron Horii had a work day at Santa Teresa Spring. They cut blackberries, repaired erosion and improved drainage on the ramp to the spring, and cleared dirt and vines from around the spring itself.  Here are pictures of the work day.
    FOSTP Work Day, Santa Teresa Spring, 11/5/21

  • On 11/6/21, there was a Bay Area Ridge Trail service day on the Stile Ranch Trail in Santa Teresa Park. Here's the description of it: "We plan to prevent erosion on the trails by creating long lasting drainage points using rock to armor eroded sections of the trail, as well as block off a shortcut trail, and remove introduced species in the area." It was a partnership between the Santa Clara County Parks, the Santa Cruz Mountains Trail Stewardship, and the Bay Area Ridge Trail Council. The County Parks Trail Crew spent several days preparing the trail. They put base rock on the lower half of the switchbacks and marked off the work areas. Here are pictures of the work day. Here's what the trail looked like afterwards.
    Stile Ranch Trail Work Day, 11/6/21

  • On 11/7/21, Mike Boulland led a history/ghost tour of Rancho Santa Teresa for a Meetup group. Mike took the group through the historic ranch house, the grounds, the barn, Santa Teresa Spring, the new trail by the Bear Tree Lot, and to the Bonetti Ranch across from Bernal School. Along the way, he talked about the history of the ranch, the people who lived there, legends, and some real ghost sightings. Here are pictures of the tour.
    History/Ghost Tour of Rancho Santa Teresa, 11/7/21

  • After months of construction, the new trail from Santa Teresa Spring to San Ignacio Avenue, was open to the public in mid-November. Here is what the trail looked like. The Friends of Santa Teresa Park and the County Parks are planning to have a ribbon-cutting ceremony on December 11 at 11 am, at the trailhead below Santa Teresa Spring. Here is the announcement. The trail took only a few months to build, but it has been in the discussion and planning stages for decades. Here is a collection of FOSTP meeting minutes, dating back to 2000, with discussions about the trail and preserving the historic area that it runs through. Our latest newsletter talks about the history of the trail.
    New Trail, 11/20/21

  • In preparation for the ribbon-cutting ceremony, Park Maintenance cleaned up the area below Santa Teresa Spring. They cleared the area of brush, put down weedcloth, covered it with mulch, placed picnic tables, and repaired the fence around the spring. See this album on the transformation of the area from 2015 to now.
    Preparation of the area below Santa Teresa Spring

  • On December 11, 2021, there was a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new trail, tentatively called the Curie Drive Trail. (It will be given an official name later.) About 80 people came to it. County Parks Director Don Rocha, County Supervisor Mike Wasserman, Former Congressman Mike Honda, FOSTP President Mike Boulland, UNSCC Executive Director Ken Podgorsek, and Ranger Ruben Suarez gave talks. FOSTP had an information table and gave out newsletters and snacks. Here are pictures of the ceremony.
    Ribbon-cutting for the new trail

  • After the ribbon-cutting, there was a hike on the new trail, led by Mike Boulland and Ranger Ruben Suarez. They talked about the history of the Bear Tree, the Bernal Hacienda, and the historic houses. Here are pictures of the hike.
    Inaugural hike on the new trail

  • After the hike, the time capsule that was buried in 1996 behind the Bear Tree Lot monument and unearthed on 5/28/21 (see above) was opened, and the contents were revealed. Here are pictures of the unearthing and the opening of the time capsule. A new, more durable waterproof container has been prepared and will be used for a new time capsule, which will be buried in the future. It will have new contents.
    Time capsule notes

  • On 12/30/21, Park Interpreters Katrina Semene and Rachel Caoili led this event starting from the Bernal Ranch: "Take a walk in the late-afternoon light and explore the wonderful oak woodlands along the new trail at the historic Bernal Ranch. Learn about the value of this protected habitat for both people and animals, and look for signs of native wildlife as the daylight fades to darkness." Here are pictures of the event, the first to be held by park interpreters on the new trail. There will be a similar hike on 3/13/22 at 6 pm.
    Twilight Hike, 12/30/21

  • On 1/7/22, members of the Friends of Santa Teresa Park had another First Friday Work Day and pulled weeds out of the garden boxes at the Bernal-Gulnac-Joice Ranch. See here for more pictures. 
    FOSTP Work Day, 1/7/22

  • On 1/16/22, there was this event at the Bernal Ranch: "Join Park Interpreter Katrina to explore the moon and the night sky on a dusk-to-dark walk at historic Bernal Ranch. Share your traditions that involve the moon, get to know the lunar phases, and navigate through the ranch using only the light from the night sky. Families are welcome. Best for ages 8+." This was a demonstration of the phases of the moon using flashlights:
    Full Moon Hike 1/16/22

  • There are numerous young trees and shrubs planted on the hills along the Mine and Pueblo Trails (2/3/22). They are contained in tree tubes, which are tied to wooden stakes or metal rods. The tubes protect the young trees from herbivores and the weather. The tubes are translucent and let light in, but are vented to prevent overheating. There's a net on top to keep birds out.
    Tree tubes

  • On 2/4/22, members of the Friends of Santa Teresa Park had another First Friday Work Day at the Bernal-Gulnac-Joice Ranch. We went back and continued weeding the garden boxes and helped park staff members clean up leaves and brush around the ranch house and the walkway (see below). We also talked to Dave Zittlow, Volunteer Park Lead at Martial Cottle Park about what we could do to improve the grounds of the ranch. Here are pictures from that day.
    Cleaned up path in front of the Bernal Ranch House

  • There are 2 new concrete picnic tables and 1 new memorial bench in the Pueblo Area next to the corral parking lot. The replace the old wooden tables that were here. They are shaded by a large pine tree and surrounded by newly-planted trees. There's a drinking fountain next to them. They were donated by FOSTP member Ed Von Runnen. There's also a new memorial bench below parking lot 1 in the Pueblo Area and another near the top of the Vista Loop Trail.
    Pueblo Area memorial bench and tables

  • On 3/4/22, there was this cleanup event at the Bernal Ranch: "Bernal Ranch Chicken Coop Cleaning. Chicken-loving volunteers are needed to help revamp the chicken display coop at the Bernal-Gulnac-Joice Ranch of Santa Teresa County Park. Join park staff to help prepare the coop for a future flock of resident hens. Sign up to help scoop out old shavings, rake out and pack down the run, and assist with general repairs." The coop was originally built in 2002 as an Eagle Scout Project by Neil Steiner and designed by Park Interpreter John Dorrance. The chickens were cared for by 4-H. After the 4-H contract expired and wasn't renewed, the chickens were cared for by the park interpreters. There were 2 chickens left, until one of them, Nina, died on 1/15/22. The remaining chicken was moved off-site to another flock, so the coop was empty. The department is looking for someone or some organization to bring in more chickens and take care of them.
    Chicken coop cleanup, 3/4/22

  • On 3/4/22, the Friends of Santa Teresa Park had a First Friday Work Day at the Bernal Ranch. We pulled weeds around the garden boxes, cleared the weeds from underneath the farm equipment on display next to the west barn, and cut some of the blackberry vines that are smothering the ceanothus bushes that are along the pathway between the west barn and the street.
    Blackberry vine removal from the ceanothus bushes

  • On 3/7/22, Ron Horii made a new Facebook photo album, using pictures from the dedication of the Bernal-Gulnac-Joice Ranch on 6/29/02. He made a webpage on it back in 2002, but it used small thumbnail pictures due to bandwidth limitations at the time. The Facebook page shows the pictures at their maximum resolution, though they were taken with a 1.3 MP camera. The old webpage has been updated to link to the higher resolution pictures when clicking on the thumbnails. This year will be the 20th anniversary of the dedication of the ranch. The Friends of Santa Teresa Park will be working with the parks department to see if there's a way to celebrate that anniversary. More details will follow as plans are formed. In the picture below, FOSTP President Mike Boulland is giving former Parks Director Paul Romero an award in appreciation for the work by Paul to make the ranch a part of Santa Teresa Park. Mike is surrounded by his 4th grade students from Baldwin School. They put on a skit about the Black-Robed Woman at Santa Teresa Spring. To the right of Paul is Neil Steiner, the Eagle Scout who made the chicken coop. Next to him by the palm tree, is Lisa Killough, who was the acting Parks Director at the time. On the far right is Lorie Garcia from the Historic Heritage Commission, which helped to fund the ranch restoration.
    BGJ Ranch Dedication, award to Paul Romero

  • On April 5, 20222, the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors authorized the purchase of the 47-acre property at Fortini and McKean Roads, adjacent to Calero County Park and Santa Teresa County Park. They authorized $9.5 million from the County Park's budget to be set aside for this purchase, $8.5 million for the property itself, $1 million for closing costs. The north end of the property is across San Vicente Avenue from the Stile Ranch Trail entrance to Santa Teresa Park. The south end is across McKean Road from the Rancho San Vicente entrance to Calero County Park. The purchase will allow connecting Santa Teresa to Calero and expand parking for either or both parks. Here is a TV news story about it. Here's a Mercury News story about it. See the Board of Supervisors April 5, 2022 meeting agenda packet starting from page 18 for more information and maps. Below is a view of the property from the Stile Ranch Trail. At the bottom is the small parking lot for the Stile Ranch trailhead. It often fills up, and people park illegally on side streets. Fortini Road runs next to the property on the left. In the distance, at the base of the hills, is the Rancho San Vicente staging area. Before any trails or parking lots can be built, the property must go through a multi-year planning process. It will involve community input, environmental reviews, permitting, and budgeting. We'll be following the development of this property and will post updates in the future.
    Fortini-McKean Property

  • On 4/23/22, the 27th annual Volunteer Recognition event was held at Hellyer County Park, after going virtual the previous 2 years. Among the volunteers receiving honors was Woody Collins (below), who received the Presidential Lifetime Service Award. He recorded 4200 volunteer hours, mostly working on trails. Ron Horii was recognized for 14,000 volunteer hours. 
    Woody Collins receiving award

    Kitty Monahan talked about the history of the volunteer program:
    Kitty Monahan at Volunteer Recognition Event

  • The County Parks' PixInParks Challenge runs from May 1 until December 15, 2022. Participants hike 7 trail routes in different parks, take a picture at the prescribed destination points, and post the pictures on social media, with the hashtag #PixInParks. After completing the challenge, they can get a t-shirt or bandana. The route at Santa Teresa starts at the Pueblo Area, with the destination on the Vista Loop Trail (below). Other hikes are at Almaden Quicksilver, Ed Levin, Mt. Madonna, Coyote Lake/Harvey Bear, Upper Stevens Creek, and Sanborn.
    Vista Loop Bench

  • Sat. May 21, 7-9 pm. Preservation Awards Night. History San Jose Park. $15 General Admission, Under 18 Free. In recognition of this year’s National Preservation Month, the newly formed Santa Clara County Preservation Alliance will host a Preservation Awards Night to bring the public and local preservation groups together for a celebratory event. Former NAQCPA President and FOSTP Vice President Kitty Monahan and NAQCPA member Bruce Bartlett will be honored at this event. See here for more information and to purchase tickets.
    The intent of the SCCPA Awards Night is:
    • To recognize individuals, businesses, and organizations in the community who have made outstanding contributions to historic preservation.
    • To showcase exemplary preservation throughout the community that may serve as inspiration for future preservation.
    • To encourage preservation of historic homes or buildings that may prevent future demolition of historic properties.
    • To educate the community on the merits of historic architecture and preservation.
    • To share ideas and projects various preservation groups throughout the county.
    SCCPA Awards Night poster

  • At the 1st Annual Preservation Alliance Awards Night in History San Jose Park, Kitty Monahan received the Preservation Lifetime Achievement Award. The award was presented by current NAQCPA President Tere Johnson. Mike Cox accepted the award for Kitty, who couldn't attend due to her health. Kathy Sutherland, Executive Assistant to County Supervisor Cindy Chavez, presented a commendation to Kitty from the Board of Supervisors. Here are pictures from the awards night. Below (L to R) are Tere Johnson, Kathy Sutherland, and Mike Cox:
    Kitty Monahan's Awards at Preservation Alliance Awards Night

    • On 5/25/22, friends and NAQCPA members visited Kitty Monahan at her house in New Almaden and presented her with the awards. She was happy to see everyone and receive the awards.
    Presentation of Awards to Kitty Monahan

  • After 2 years of being suspended because of the pandemic, the usually-annual Fandango/La Fuente event at Santa Teresa County Park's Bernal Ranch is coming back this year! It will be held on Saturday, July 30. It is a celebration of the families who have lived at Rancho Santa Teresa. It will include cultural performances, historical presentations, and exhibits from partner organizations. The Friends of Santa Teresa Park have been invited to participate. The last time it was held was on 10/19/19. Here are pictures from that event, including the one below:
    FOSTP booth at La Fuente, 10/19/19

Newsletters
Santa Teresa Park Pictures
Rainbow over Santa Teresa Golf Course from the Ridge Trail

Santa Teresa Park web pages & albums with pictures (newest first):
2022
 2021
2020
 2019 2018
 2017
 2016
 2015
 2014
 2013
 2012
 2011
 2010
 2009
 2008 and Earlier
 Pictures and Special reports: 2000 to 2007
Web Pages/Photo Albums On Other Local Parks (Newest First)

Rancho San Vicente 4/3/11
2022
2021
2020
 2019
 2018 2017
 2016
 2015
 2014
 2013
 2012
 2011
 2010
 2009
 2008 and Earlier For more pictures of parks and trails, see Ron Horii's San Francisco Bay Area Parks, Recreation and Travel website.
Yahoo Group Pictures

Coyote Peak
These were pictures for FOSTP Yahoo Group members only (anyone can apply to join, but you need a Yahoo ID, which is free).  Below is a list of the albums that used to be there.

Note: due to policy changes by Yahoo, which is now owned by Verizon, after 12/14/19, these pictures were no longer available. Yahoo Groups will still be active, but only for email communication. All the files on the group site have been archived here (note that this is an archive only and is not formatted for easy viewing). Some of the photo albums have be re-created as Facebook albums. Facebook sign-in is required to view them.

Park Events


Pre-Mother's Day Hike, Fortini Trail

Park Events for 2022

Note that starting March 16, 2020, all in-person County Park events and activities were cancelled. There were virtual programs (see links). They started to come back in 2021. 2021 events are not listed.

See our Events Archive pages for information from 2001 to 2006, 2007 to 2008, 2009 to 2010, 2011 to 2012, 2013-2014, 2015-2016, 2017-2018, 2019-2020
The following activities and events are in Santa Teresa Park and/or FOSTP members are involved:

2022 Santa Teresa Park Events:
  • Sun, Jan 16, 5:30 - 6:30pm: Full Moon Explorers. Join Park Interpreter Katrina to explore the moon and the night sky on a dusk-to-dark walk at historic Bernal Ranch. Share your traditions that involve the moon, get to know the lunar phases, and navigate through the ranch using only the light from the night sky. Families are welcome. Best for ages 8+.
  • Fri, March 4, 9:30am - 12pm: Bernal Ranch Chicken Coop Cleaning. Chicken-loving volunteers are needed to help revamp the chicken display coop at the Bernal-Gulnac-Joice Ranch of Santa Teresa County Park. Join park staff to help prepare the coop for a future flock of resident hens. Sign up to help scoop out old shavings, rake out and pack down the run, and assist with general repairs.
  • Sun, March 13, 6 - 7pm. Family Twilight Oaks Stroll. Take a walk in the early-evening light and explore the wonderful oak woodlands along the new trail at historic Bernal Ranch. Learn about the value of this protected habitat and look for signs of native wildlife as the daylight fades toward darkness. Be sure to dress in layers and bring a flashlight for this family-friendly activity. For more information, email katrina.semene@prk.sccgov.org. Space is limited. 
  • Fri. April 22, 5-6 pm. Walk In The Woods Field Notes In Nature. Have you ever wondered how new discoveries are made? We can often learn about the world around us through careful observation and note taking. Join Park Interpreter Rob in the Santa Teresa County Park grasslands and oak woodlands for an Earth Day late afternoon nature walk where you can learn some techniques for field notes, drawing, and nature journaling. The trail will be unpaved and have slight grades. Be prepared with comfortable walking shoes. Email rob.mcdonnell@prk.sccgov.org for more information. Registrations required. Sign up here.
  • Sat. April 23, 6 - 7pm. Family Twilight Oaks Stroll. See March 13. Registrations required. Sign up here.
  • Sun. April 24 9am-12pm. Earth Day Cleanup Event at the Bernal Ranch. Help do weeding and cleanup around the ranch house and nearby paths. Address: Bernal-Gulnac-Joice Ranch 372 Manila Dr San Jose, CA 95119. Contact Info: Volunteer Program Office (408) 918-4930.Park in the Bernal-Gulnac-Joice Ranch Parking Lot. There will also be street parking available.  Sign up here.
  • Sat. June 19, 9-10 am. Mindful Walking in Nature. Santa Teresa Park. Relish the joy of being in the moment and fully aware of your body and mind. Learn how to be mindful and minimize your wandering thoughts while walking through nature.  Meet at the picnic benches near the Bernal Ranch House with water, comfortable shoes and layers. Recommended for ages 18 and up.(408) 335-9208. Register here.
  • Sat. July 30, La Fuente, Bernal Ranch. Details TBD.

2022 Events in Other Nearby Parks:
  • Sat, Jan 15, 2 - 3pm: Hatch A Dream. January is the best time for seeing nests! We will explore nest specimens, attempt our own nest weaving, and take a mindful stroll of discovery. Meet at Anderson Lake Visitor Center, 19245 Malaguerra Ave., Morgan Hill. Email janet.shriner@prk.sccgov.org for more information.
  • Wed, 1/26, 2/2, & 2/9, 6 - 7:15pm: Neighborhood Naturalists. Curious about the natural world in your own neighborhood? This educational program for adults introduces participants to the natural history of Santa Clara County. Each week will bring expert guest speakers who cover local geology, native plants, and common wildlife, as well as "homework" activities including neighborhood walks, stargazing, and nature journaling. Email luke.bailey@prk.sccgov.org for more information.
  • Jan 15 - 16: Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Weekend of Service. "Everybody can be great, because everybody can serve" Martin Luther King, Jr. In honor of the holiday, we celebrate the civil rights leader's life and legacy as a national day of service, encouraging all Americans to volunteer to improve their communities. Santa Clara County Parks will be hosting beautification events throughout the weekend at different county park locations where volunteers can join park staff to plant, weed and pick up litter. VOLUNTEER SITES
  • Beginning Sat, Jan 15: Alivso Weeding Parties. Santa Clara County Parks is partnering with San Francisco Bay Bird Observatory for multiple habitat restoration events at Alviso Marina County Park, beginning Saturday, January 15. We need volunteers to help pull weeds, plant new native plants, and spread mulch to help restore this coastal habitat. SIGN UP
  • Fri, Jan 21, 10am - 1pm: Almaden Quicksilver Beautification Day. Do you wish to give back to your County Parks? Here's an opportunity to volunteer at Almaden Quicksilver County Park and get in your weekend workout. Join a Park Ranger in brushing the sides of the Yellow Kid trail to keep the trail wide and accessible. Tools will be provided, but be sure to bring sturdy hiking boots, as you will be hiking to the work area. Bring a refillable water bottle, work gloves, and dress in layers for working in the cold. SIGN UP
  • Sat, Jan 22, 9am-12pm: Quicksilver History Hike. Explore what remains of the once-bustling mining operations in the hills above New Almaden. This moderate, 4-mile hike in Almaden Quicksilver County Park leaves from the Wood Road parking lot off Hicks Road in San Jose. Dress in layers with sturdy hiking shoes, sun protection, and bring plenty of drinking water. No pre-registration is necessary.
  • Sat, Feb 5, 9am - 12pm: Trail Watch Volunteer Training. Do you love hiking, biking, or horseback riding in Santa Clara County Parks? As a Trail Watch volunteer, you could serve to keep our parks friendly, welcoming, and safe. Attend the virtual Trail Watch Academy training via Zoom to join our team of volunteers. Questions? Email volunteer@park.sccgov.org. SIGN UP
  • Sat, Feb 26, 9am-12pm: Quicksilver History Hike. See Jan 22. 
  • Saturday, March 26th, 9:00 am - 12:00pm. Quicksilver History Hike. Join an Almaden Quicksilver Park Interpreter to explore what remains of the once-bustling mining operations in the hills above New Almaden. This moderate 3-4 mile hike leaves from the Wood Road parking lot of Almaden Quicksilver County Park and is offered once a month. Registration for the hike opens on the 1st of the month that the hike is offered. Space is limited. For more information call 408-918-7700. Advanced registration required.
  • Wednesday, March 30, 6:00 pm-7:00 pm .The Stupendous Women of the Santa Clara Valley. Throughout its history, many incredible women have lived in the Santa Clara Valley. A look back at the valley in the 19th and early 20th centuries offers the chance to examine the lives of a few of the women who stood out from everyone else. Questions? Email Rob.McDonnell@prk.sccgov.org. Sign up here.
  • Sun. April 24, 9:00 am - 12:00 pm, Earth Day Event. Help beautify the grounds of the historic Casa Grande. Contact Info: Volunteer Program Office (408) 918-4930. Address: 21350 Almaden Rd. San Jose 95120. Meet in the main parking lot of Casa Grande (home of the Quicksilver Mining Museum). See here for more Earth Day events and to sign up.
  • Sun. April 24, 9:00 am - 12:00 pm. Quicksilver History Hike. See March 26. Advanced registration required.
  • Sat. April 30, 9:30 am - 10:30 am. Nature Exploration at Vasona! Join a Park Interpreter to explore Vasona Lake County Park and discover how movement shapes this park. Guided walk will be 1 mile long on a flat, paved walkway and will meet at the fishing pier. All ages welcome. Space is limited. Advanced registration required. Questions? Email jaclyn.caldwell@prk.sccgov.org. 
  • Sat, May 21, 9am - 12 pm. National River Cleanup Day, multiple locations. National River Cleanup is a national day of action to protect our rivers, watersheds, and wildlife from trash and debris. Since its inception in 1991, American Rivers have engaged more than 1.3 million volunteers who have participated in thousands of cleanups across the country, covering more than 261,000 miles of waterways and removing more than 32.5 million pounds of litter and debris. More information and sign ups. 
  • Sat. May 21, 7-9 pm. Preservation Awards Night. History San Jose Park. $15 General Admission, Under 18 Free. In recognition of this year’s National Preservation Month, the newly formed Santa Clara County Preservation Alliance will host a Preservation Awards Night to bring the public and local preservation groups together for a celebratory event. FOSTP President and NAQCPA President Kitty Monahan will be honored at this event. See here for more information and to purchase tickets.
  • Sat. July 9, 9 am - 3 pm. Play Like a Miner. Casa Grande. Imagine a day in the life of a mercury miner and other 19th century residents of New Almaden at this fun family event, featuring games, crafts, rocks, and mining-era activities for all ages. Questions? Email jaclyn.caldwell@prk.sccgov.org.
  • Sat. October 8. Pioneer Day. Casa Grande. Details TBD.