Our History

Atascadero Land Preservation Society (ALPS) was founded in 1989 by local residents concerned with maintaining Atascadero’s natural beauty. The newly formed organization was instrumental in helping the City of Atascadero obtain Stadium Park, a magnificent 30-acre natural amphitheater open to the public. Initially used as an entertainment and meeting venue, then for many years as an informal landfill by many residents, Stadium Park has since been cleaned up and now boasts a trail system that allows hiking, photography, wildlife sightings, and quiet relaxation in a beautiful native blue oak woodland close to the heart of the city. In the summer of 2002, Stadium Park was the setting for our first (and only) annual Chautauqua, a day of fun and entertainment reminiscent of the early days of Atascadero Colony. The Chautauqua gave way in 2003 to the Pine Mountain Festival, an annual event that took advantage of the outstanding acoustic qualities of the park by bringing nationally prominent musicians to Atascadero for outdoor concerts that benefited ALPS.

The shaded lane that serves as the entrance to Stadium Park and the northeast hillside beside it were slated for residential development until ALPS raised $150,000 in 2003 to purchase and preserve the land. ALPS has also acquired ownership of significant portions of environmentally sensitive Atascadero Creek as well as a historical spring along Traffic Way. Our most recent and largest (103 acres) is the Three Bridges Oak Preserve on Atascadero's west side.

Throughout the properties we manage, ALPS strives towards positive and responsible land stewardship. Land activities include: Fire hazard reduction, exotic species removal, weed abatement, fence line maintenance, natural resource protection and restoration and litter removal. Facility Activities include: trail construction and maintenance, environmental education and maintenance of our botanical garden, the Bill Shepard Native Garden.