CUPERTINO, CALIFORNIA - AUGUST 03: Artist Xiangfei Bai, top, talks to Michael Tang, 9, from Saratoga, about painting a mural sponsored by CompassPoint Mentorship and the County of Santa Clara at Villa Maria Picnic Area at Stevens Creek Park in Cupertino, Calif., on Wednesday, Aug. 3, 2022. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
The first and oldest park in Santa Clara County recently celebrated its 100th anniversary.
The Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors on Jan. 22 recognized Stevens Creek County Park for reaching the milestone. The park is located along Stevens Canyon Road and Mt. Eden Road in the foothills between Saratoga and Cupertino.
“Stevens Creek is a beloved recreation and open space,” said Santa Clara County Supervisor Joe Simitian. “It really showcases the area’s natural beauty.”
On Jan. 24, 1924, the county acquired 400 acres of land near Cupertino with the intent of making it a park. Urged on by then-supervisor Charles Cooley, the land was purchased for $27,500, according to the county. The park opened to the public later that year.
Stevens Creek Park site was originally managed by the county’s public works department because it was purchased prior to the creation of Santa Clara County Parks and Recreation in 1956.
A county planning department report in 1955 recommended that a parks and recreation commission be created, that professional parks and recreation staff be hired, that a parks master plan be developed and that acquisition of land and funding be sought.
In September 1956, the board established the Department of Parks and Recreation with Buford V. Amyx as its first director. In 1959, the passage of a bond election made it possible to acquire property for parks.
Today, the Santa Clara County parks system provides recreational opportunities to residents and preserves natural resources at 28 park locations made up of more than 52,000 acres.
In 1924, people went to Stevens Creek County Park to fish, swim, picnic and walk in nature.
“The land was acquired so that people had access for recreation, as well as preservation and protection of the habitats that were associated with that area,” said Don Rocha, current director of Santa Clara County Parks and Recreation.
Today visitors can access 1,063 acres of woodlands, meadows and canyons for viewing nature and visiting sites like the historic Villa Maria orchard. Visitors to the park also may enjoy picnicking, archery, horseshoes, disc golf and volleyball. There are numerous trails for hiking, mountain biking and horseback riding.
Stevens Creek Park is also a popular site for birding, where over 125 avian species have been sighted and recorded to date.
“What’s great about Stevens Creek, and all our county parks, is that they are always evolving to meet the recreational needs of current and future generations,” said Simitian.
In 1935, the Santa Clara Valley Water Conservation District purchased 171.5 acres adjacent to Stevens Creek County Park to develop a reservoir. The Stevens Creek dam was completed in 1936.
The reservoir and dam were originally created for flood control. The Santa Clara Valley experienced significant floods in 1862 and 1911 before the dam’s construction. With the rise in popularity of recreational boating, the 87-acre Stevens Creek Reservoir was opened for kayaking and non-powered boating, along with fishing for black bass, large-mouth bass, catfish, and crappie.
Park Charter Fund
Santa Clara County voters approved the Park Charter Fund in 1972, which accelerated the acquisition of new lands and expanded the network of regional parks and trails. A portion of property taxes was used to create the trust fund for the acquisition and development of parks.
This funding has helped create one of the largest regional park systems in California, according to the county.
“Since the first purchase of 400 acres, the park system has grown in order to preserve and protect habitats, as well as provide recreational opportunities,” said Rocha. “Our parks provide lots of opportunities for our diverse community to connect with nature.”
Stevens Creek was originally named Arroyo San José de Cupertino, then became Cupertino Creek sometime before 1866 before being renamed for Elisha (Elijah) Stephens. How Stephens’ name eventually became misspelled is unknown.
Elisha Stephens was a blacksmith and trapper who settled on Arroyo de San José Cupertino in 1848 and owned 160 acres at the base of Black Mountain in the Santa Cruz Mountains, west of Santa Clara County.
Stephens is noted for being the captain of the Stephens-Townsend-Murphy Party in 1844, the first successful wagon train to cross the Sierra Nevada, two years before the infamous Donner Party.
Stevens Creek County Park is located at 11401 Stevens Canyon Road, Cupertino. Contact the park office at 408-867-3654.
Originally published at Lisa Thorn