Senator Portantino Champions Claremont Hills Wildlands Conservancy $3M Grant for Clara Oaks Acquisition Resulting from Senate Budget Priority

For Immediate Release: January 18, 2022

Contact: Lerna Shirinian, (818) 409-0400

Senator Portantino Champions Claremont Hills Wildlands Conservancy $3M Grant for Clara Oaks Acquisition Resulting from Senate Budget Priority

Sacramento, CA - State Senator Anthony J. Portantino (D – La Cañada Flintridge) testified today in strong support for a $3 million grant to Claremont Wildlands Conservancy (CWC) for acquiring open space to add to Claremont Hills Wilderness Park (CHWP).  The Senator provided comment during the San Gabriel and Lower Los Angeles Rivers and Mountains Conservancy meeting this afternoon, during which the grant was up for consideration.  The Rivers and Mountains Conservancy received significant funding in the 2021-2022 State Budget as a result of Senator Portantino’s negotiations and the Senate’s budget priorities.  Senate Portantino had introduced SB 45 last year, a $5B bond which included funding for the conservancies. Fortunately, that funding was included in the State Budget, making the bond no longer needed. Today’s action is a direct result of these efforts proving to be fruitful.

“Trying to acquire this property has truly been a community effort and I want to thank all those involved in getting the possible purchase this far,” stated Senator Portantino. “I was proud to speak in support of a resolution today that authorizes a $3 million grant to the Claremont Hills Wildlands Conservancy and very pleased that the State Senate made funding our conservancies a top legislative priority. I look forward to continuing our efforts to expand and preserve open space in our communities and this is an important step towards that goal.”

Claremont Wildlands Conservancy (CWC) and The Trust for Public Land requested funding to acquire 103 acres of foothill open space to add to the City of Claremont's popular 2,507-acre Claremont Hills Wilderness Park (CHWP). The parcel, named Clara Oaks by its owner-developer, provides a critical link between the open space of Claremont’s Park to the east and Los Angeles County’s Marshall Canyon Regional Park to the west, helping to extend a wildland corridor from the LA County line westward along the face of the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains as far as Monrovia. The City of Claremont would effectively manage the property as part of the wilderness park under its 2016 CHWP Master Plan.

“Clara Oaks is the last large property in Claremont’s hillsides that could accommodate a large development of homes,” stated Terry Grill, President of the Claremont Wildlands Conservancy. “We at Claremont Wildlands Conservancy have been working for over three years to add it to the Claremont Hills Wilderness Park, and we are thrilled to have Senator Portantino’s active support. With his help, the Board of the state-funded Rivers and Mountains Conservancy has awarded $3 million toward the purchase of Clara Oaks from the owner-developer. These funds provide a strong foundation on which we can build additional support for saving Clara Oaks and expanding the park. We are deeply grateful for the support of the senator, the Board and staff of the Rivers and Mountains Conservancy and our partner, the Trust for Public Land.”

The acquisition of Clara Oaks would provide additional parkland for passive recreation and appreciation of nature and increase access to open space for underserved communities. It also protects watershed, protects native vegetation, protects habitat for wildlife, and minimizes wildfire risk by preventing development.

The project has received widespread and long-term support from the Claremont community.  The Claremont Wildlands Conservancy has been working with The Trust for Public Land since 2000 to preserve foothills open space, and Claremont’s City Councils have a much longer history of continuous support.

Senator Portantino is the Chair of the Senate Committee on Appropriations and was instrumental in the final budget negotiations that yielded strong fiscal support for the Rivers and Mountains and the Santa Monica Mountains conservancies.  He has been a long time and consistent supporter of preserving our precious open spaces and expanding outdoor recreation activities.  As a former Mayor of La Cañada Flintridge, he understands the challenges small cities nestled up against the foothills have in acquiring land and preserving land for future generations.

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