Urban open space creates a place close to home for people to connect with nature and for natural habitats to thrive. It helps provide a balance to large-scale preservation efforts that protect important habitat, ridgelines, hillsides and watersheds.

The Open Space Authority sets aside 20% of its net revenues annually for urban open space projects. Twice a year funds are allocated to participating cities and the County of Santa Clara based on each jurisdiction’s percentage of parcels within OSA assessment districts. Member cities include Milpitas, Campbell, San Jose, Santa Clara and Morgan Hill.

Projects that qualify for funding include land acquisition, environmental restoration, and improvements that provide or enhance open space. This includes projects that increase public appreciation of open space, such as trails, overlooks, and interpretive signage and projects that convert surplus or abandoned lands.

Requests for open space project funding originate with the participating jurisdictions. City and county staff apply for funds to support specific projects that meet their own and the Authority’s open space requirements and goals.