With a perspective from Amy Lopez - El Granada resident, mother, educator…

“My husband and I moved to the coast in 2006. We knew we needed to be in the Bay Area for work and were advised by friends to live in Half Moon Bay because it was so dog friendly and a charming small town. We only intended to stay a year but loved it so much we decided to stay and raise our daughter here in this wonderful community. Previously, I have jogged and walked through Wavecrest to enjoy a part of the coast that feels special as it feels more remote and not as busy as other places. We have also explored Wavecrest so my daughter could collect tadpoles and say hello to the horses that are nearby. Recently, we attended the Wavecrest Raptor Walk that was arranged by the Coastside Land Trusts, as my daughter is fascinated by animals. The walk was led by a wonderful docent who illuminated how precious a protected place like Wavecrest is, and its importance to raptors. Raptors use the space to hunt as they migrate, which makes the area a wonderful place to observe and appreciate these beautiful creatures. It was explained to us that these bird populations are in decline due to habitat loss. Before the Raptor Walk we enjoyed Wavecrest—but afterwards we walked away awed by how fortunate we are to have such a special protected open space that can be enjoyed by so many. How lucky we are to have had that experience that changed the lens we see the coast with!”