Open space trust buys 151 acres Open space trust buys 151 acres (July 28, 2004)

The Menlo Park-based Peninsula Open Space Trust (POST) has purchased 151 acres of ranchland along Skyline Ridge, known as Rapley Ranch.

POST officials said they hope this land will help create a far-reaching trail system with the adjacent Russian Ridge Open Space Preserve. Rapley Ranch is a half-mile west of Skyline Boulevard at the western boundary of the Russian Ridge Preserve. (The Russian Ridge preserve is located west of Skyline and north of Page Mill Road).

Rapley Ranch has steep canyons, creeks, waterfalls, and mixed evergreen forests. It also overlooks Mindego Hill, San Mateo County's only extinct volcano, officials said.

POST bought the land from private owners for $3.45 million. It had gone on the market in 2002 for $4.5 million and could have been developed for luxury homes, POST officials said.

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