Primary Partners: San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC), Alameda Resource Conservation District (ACRCD)
Funders: SFPUC, Columbia Foundation, USDA Risk Management Agency, San Francisco Foundation, Clorox Foundation, Banberry Fund, Robertson FamilyFund
Dates of project: 2006 – 2016
The Sunol Water Temple AgPark is a collaborative farm that provides land access and technical assistance for diverse beginning farmers, public education and natural resources stewardship. SAGE created the AgPark in 2006 through an historic partnership with the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC), the landowner. Part of 40,000 acres of Alameda Creek watershed lands owned by the SFPUC, the AgPark is located on 20 acres of prime farmland in the beautiful Sunol Valley. It is sited at the confluence of two wild creeks and adjacent to the 100-year-old Sunol Water Temple.
After guiding its growth for ten years, in 2017, SAGE transitioned management of the AgPark to our long-term project partner: the Alameda County Resources Conservation District (ACRCD). Through ACRCD management, the Sunol AgPark continues to provide land for sustainable farming, support to beginning farmers, and educational opportunities for students and members of the community.
At the Sunol AgPark, SAGE helped dozens of small farming enterprises flourish, hosted thousands of students on field trips, and successfully created a place that will endure as a model for integrating sustainable farming with environmental and community benefits.
SAGE and project partners celebrated the Sunol AgPark’s 10th anniversary in August 2016 to honor this pioneering farm model and public-nonprofit partnership. It is gratifying to see the Sunol AgPark deeply valued by farmers, partners, communities and educators throughout the Bay Area.
