A HISTORY of Preservation
POST’s ability to carry out our bold vision is the result of decades of experience, visionary leaders, scientific expertise, invaluable partnerships, and donor and community support.
In 1972, San Mateo County voters passed Measure R, creating the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District (Midpen) to “acquire and preserve a regional greenbelt of open space land in perpetuity, protect and restore the natural environment, and provide opportunities for ecologically sensitive public enjoyment and education.”
Herb Grench, Midpen’s General Manager proposed forming a private land trust five years later to work privately with landowners reluctant to deal with government agencies and to raise money to supplement public funding for land conservation. With that, Peninsula Open Space Trust, POST, was born in Menlo Park.
Robert “Bob” Augsberger of Portola Valley was our first POST president from 1977 to 1987. Early on, he recognized the value of protecting signature landscapes like Windy Hill and Mindego Hill from development.
Bob was followed by Audrey Rust in 1987. For 25 years, Audrey was instrumental in the permanent protection of thousands of acres of open space across the peninsula and San Mateo coast. She is widely recognized as a conservation leader and champion across the country. Walter Moore became president in 2011, after 16 years at POST as general council, vice president, and executive vice president.
Walter retired as President on January 21, 2025. Today, Gordon Clark leads POST after 18 years in various land and fundraising roles.
POST is one of the premier land trusts in the U.S., recognized for our deep technical understanding of our local lands and our expert ability to define and implement complex land protection and restoration projects.
In addition to our confidential work with private landowners, we partner closely with many public agencies on the national, state, and local levels to create a strong, effective network of conserved lands that will benefit all in perpetuity.
POST is also keenly aware that our work must benefit and include all of communities that we serve. Our Equity Commitment outlines our approach to this ongoing effort and we are dedicated to making meaningful change. We are also strengthening our relationships with the Indigenous people in our area and acknowledge their role past, present, and future in protecting and caring for our local landscapes.