Danville residents recently had a chance to discover the often forgotten side of Oak Hill Park.
A “geocaching” event – where participants use Global Positioning Systems to find hidden caches – was held earlier this month that included a portion of the 43-acre park which consists of undeveloped land. Unlike the park’s main part on Stone Valley Road, which includes an artificial lake, restrooms and picnic areas, the natural section is home to deer, quail and hawks.
“We met and conversed with dozens of ‘geocachers’ during the event and were told how great the experience was and how much they enjoyed having the use of this ‘back door’ trail to Oak Hill Park,” said Alamo Oaks resident Charles Jarrett. “Several especially noted the wonderful ‘lonely little park bench’ where they could sit in the shade of a tree and escape some of the heat at the entrance to the park and wondered who built it.”
Although the two sections of the park are separated by a fenced barrier, the park’s undeveloped area is accessible to those who wish to go there. The Alamo Oaks Trail, which begins at 305 Cross Road off Smith Road, provides users with safe access, said Jarrett, whose family built the trail for the community.
The trail originally traversed through the Alamo Oaks area and across the Frank Couper property, where Oak Hill Park exists today, said Jarrett, and it had actually been in existence prior to 1935 when the Alamo Oaks subdivision was created.
He said the Alamo Oaks “formal trail” was conceived and proposed by the Alamo Oaks Homeowners Association to Bernie Cooper, Danville parks coordinator; R-7A service district volunteer Wanda Longnecker; and Contra Costa County Supervisor Bob Schroder in 1988. After a year of negotiations, part of Ackerman Road was abandoned and made into a permanent trail in 1989, allowing the completion of the Alamo Oaks trail between Ackerman Road and Oak Hill Park.
Jarrett said the trail, which is more than 70 years old, was revitalized as part of the Eagle Scout project of two Danville Boy Scout Explorers. Matt and Mike Mundelius created trail signs along the path, and added a redwood bench at the beginning and at the end.
“Most of the trail signs need to be recreated as vandals have torn down the old ones, but the ‘secret’ trail is still providing daily unfettered access to walkers, hikers and equestrians alike, to the beautiful undeveloped Oak Hill Park open space area,” Jarrett said.
Besides hiking along the area, the geocachers spent time searching for treasure in the event sponsored by the Danville Parks and Recreation Services.
“The event was sponsored to promote the experience of hiking and exploring one of Danville’s last large open spaces, as well as the fun and excitement of geocaching,” Jarrett said.
