Should El Cerrito Buy Open Space Below Madera School?

Members of three local outdoors and environmental groups are asking the city to purchase a seven-acre parcel below Madera School that would link El Cerrito's northern and southern hillside trails, according to an article in the San Jose Mercury News.

The El Cerrito Trekkers, the West Contra Costa branch of the Sierra Club and Friends of Five Creeks say the undeveloped plot, known locally as the "Busby property," is one of the last major privately owned open spaces in El Cerrito.

It could serve as a park and allow hikers and mountain bikers access to longer, linked trails, backers of the proposal say.

Group members have emailed city officials to urge the purchase, but to date there's been no public action by the city.

You may read the complete Mercury News article here.

What do you think — should the city buy the Busby property and add it to El Cerrito's park system? Tell us in the comments section below.