Conejo Open Space History/Overview

See Open Space Area Descriptions at the Conejo Open Space Conservation Agency website.


Background and Brief History

First open space acquired in 1967 - a portion of what is today Wildwood Regional Park

Ring Concept - Conejo valley is surrounded by a ring of hills and mountains. This geography lent itself to a plan based on a ring of permanent open space surrounding the City of Thousand Oaks.

Current Holdings - Approximately 15,000 acres of open space, including parks and golf courses. This is approximately 38% of the city of Thousand Oaks planning area. Final plan envisions approximately 16,000 acres or 41% of the planning area.

Trail System - Currently over 150 miles of multi-use trails.

Multi-use open space plan - committed to multi-use trails, i.e., the trails are shared by hikers, bikers and equestrians. Dogs are permitted on leash. No motorized vehicles are permitted on open space trails.

Trail City USA - So named because of the large and extensive trail system


Conejo Open Space Conservation Agency (COSCA)

Created in 1977 through a joint powers agreement between the City of TO and the Conejo Recreation and Park District (CRPD).

COSCA's primary responsibility is to hold and manage most of the Conejo open space, and to preserve its natural characteristics while providing opportunities for passive recreational enjoyment of the natural resources.

COSCA is governed by a 5-person Board of Directors consisting of two City Council members, two CRPD elected Directors, and one public member.

Website address: www.conejo-openspace.org.


Conjeo Open Space Trails Advisory Committee (COSTAC)

Formed in 1989. The eleven member committee is composed of hikers, mountain bikers and equestrians who are appointed by the COSCA Board for a three-year term.

Acts in an advisory capacity to the COSCA Board. Reviews issues and makes recommendations to the COSCA Board regarding open space and trails.

Administers the COSCA Volunteer Corps, which is responsible for several open space programs including Trail Watch and Patrol, Trail Work, Adopt-a-Trail, and Trails Education Days.


Conejo Open Space Foundation (COSF)

Established in 1995 as a nonprofit corporation for public and charitable purposes. The primary responsibilities are to raise funds to promote and maintain multi-use trail and open space systems, and to educate the public, especially children, about our open space and the environment.

COSF financially supports the above COSTAC programs, and provides funding to create and publish open space trail maps.