The North Davis Upland Habitat Area is the City’s newest open space area.  Just a few years ago, the three-acre site was a weed-invested vacant lot.  At the urging and recommendation of the Friends of North Davis Pond and the Open Space and Habitat Commission, the City embarked on a five-year habitat restoration project of this site at the intersection of F Street and Anderson Road.

The habitat restoration project also stemmed from community feedback the City received during a public outreach effort in 2016.  The community expressed an interest in seeing more habitat restoration projects done within the city limits using money generated by the City’s open space protection special parcel tax (Measure O), which generates about $680,000 a year for the acquisition and maintenance of the City’s open space areas.  Measure O funds, along with open space development impact fees, financed the habitat restoration.

The project features native plantings (i.e., new trees, shrubs, grasses and wildflowers), walking gravel paths accessible to people with disabilities, natural seating areas, pond overlook areas, drainage swales, a native hedgerow, and interpretive panels (which will be installed at a later date after a community input process).  The improvements will allow people with disabilities to enjoy the open space area.  The gravel trail is built on “geocells” which hold the gravel and provide a firm and safe surface for wheelchairs.  The improvements also were needed to provide the public with more views of North Davis Pond.  The habitat area is #11 on the map below.

The habitat area is open seven days a week, from dawn to dusk. 

• Take a walk/hike/run through the upland habitat
• View birds and wildlife (water birds, hawks)
• Learn about the area from the interpretive panels (coming soon!)
• Meditate/commune with nature
• Access nature if you are in a wheelchair

• Dogs allowed but they must be leashed and stay on gravel trail
• Bikes allowed but they must be walked
• No hunting
• No camping
• No fires
• No smoking
• No drones
• No horses

The North Davis Upland Habitat Area can be accessed via Northstar Park and/or Northstar Greenbelt.  It also can be accessed via Anderson Road.

    Some photos courtesy of Marc Hoshovsky.