Park Talk June 2025

of Box Springs Mountain Park Celebrating 50 Years This year marks the 50th anniversary of Box Springs Mountain Park, a landmark achievement in the history of RivCoParks and a testament to the power of community partnership and conservation leadership. Established in 1975, Box Springs Mountain Park came to life through a strong collaboration between concerned residents, local leaders, and RivCoParks. In response to community efforts to stop a proposed subdivision, RivCoParks worked quickly to preserve this vital natural area between Riverside and Moreno Valley. Thanks to the leadership of then Parks Director Pete Dangermond, Supervisor Norton Younglove, and land acquisition specialist Jack Ruth, the County secured over 2,200 acres between 1973 and 1975 using Joint Powers Authority funding and generous land donations. These early acquisitions included areas now familiar to park visitors, like Two Trees Canyon, Sugarloaf Mountain, and what is today the ranger station and staging area. The park was officially dedicated on April 5, 1975, during a public celebration that brought the community together for music, horseback rides, and shared appreciation for open space. The momentum didn’t stop there. In the decades that followed, RivCoParks continued to play a key role in expanding the park’s footprint, growing it to over 3,400 acres. It is now also recognized as the Box Springs Mountain Reserve , protected under the Western Riverside County Multiple Species Habitat Conservation Plan. In 1990, our department transitioned into the Riverside County Regional Park and Open-Space District , and Box Springs Mountain Park became part of a growing portfolio of public lands dedicated to recreation, habitat conservation, and outdoor education. Today, Box Springs Mountain Reserve serves thousands of visitors each year and reflects what can be accomplished when public agencies and residents work together toward a shared vision. BY JACQUELYN MULLER

5