COOLEY LANDING
Cooley Landing in East Palo Alto is surrounded by tidal salt marsh that serves as critical habitat for hundreds of species of shore birds, fish, and mammals, including the endangered salt marsh harvest mouse and Ridgway’s rail. The park is owned by the City of East Palo Alto, with portions of the land owned by Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District. In 2012, the area was transformed from a former county dump into a public park and interpretive center, with beautiful views of the SF Bay.
Since 2015 our restoration efforts at Cooley Landing have focused on key areas along the park’s trails and near the education center to bring native upland habitat to a stretch of bare land left after the dump was covered over. Along with restoration efforts, we also utilize Cooley Landing to teach volunteers and students about the risks of sea level rise in the Bay Area.
OUR VOLUNTEER PROGRAMS AT COOLEY LANDING
We also host students as a part of Youth Exploring Sea Level Rise Science (YESS) with the San Mateo County Office of Sustainability, as well as service-learning events with local schools and nonprofits and annual Coastal Cleanup Day events.
OUR RESTORATION WORK AT COOLEY LANDING
Bay Road Bioswale
In 2016 we began planting into the bioswale along Bay Road, which absorbs and filters stormwater runoff before it flows into the bay. Volunteers prepped and planted native plants down the quarter mile stretch over the course of several years. Today the bioswale is bursting with native plants grown at our nursery like poppies, California fuchsia and goldenrod.
Interpretive Center Planting
In 2019, after years of construction finalizing the buildings and walkways at Cooley, we were able to get to planting in the area between the interpretive center and water’s edge. Staff and volunteers worked hard to get plants in the ground before the heat of summer arrived. More plants went in the ground in 2020, and it is now almost unrecognizable from the bare dirt in previous years!
Planting in 2019
Plants established in 2020
The Living Shoreline Project
In 2015, local artist Linda Gass designed a living art installation to show the area’s historic shoreline before the Cooley Landing peninsula was developed. With the help of volunteers, we brought Linda’s vision to life and planted a meandering line of rushes (Juncus patens) marking the original shoreline (first marked by blue flags and survey whiskers). Today much of the Living Shoreline is established and receives regular care and water from our volunteers.
VISIT COOLEY LANDING
2100 Bay Rd., East Palo Alto, CA 94303
Cooley Landing is open everyday from sunrise to sunset. The drive to Cooley is through a residential neighborhood and along Bay Road. There is a parking lot at the end of Bay Road near the Interpretive Center which includes two accessible spaces, and a smaller parking lot closer to Ravenswood Preserve. Be sure to lock your car and take all valuables with you. No entrance or parking fees are required. The park is also accessible by bike and has bike racks available. Bus routes 296 and 280 stop at the Bay/Pulgas stop, about a half mile from the park.
The park has about a mile of flat, packed gravel trails which are ADA compliant and also connect to the longer Bay Trail. There is limited shade at Cooley Landing, so come prepared to explore with water and a hat, and be aware of ticks.
There are flush toilets available near the parking lot, including two ADA compliant restrooms. Water fountains are also available.
OUR TEAM AT COOLEY LANDING
Project Lead Paola Bueno manages our work at Cooley Landing. Any questions about our work at Cooley Landing can be sent to Project Lead Paola Bueno.
OUR PARTNERS
Franklin and Catherine Johnson Foundation