Horse Hill Work Party Set for Saturday

Pizza, horses, education and hard work – and hopefully no heavy rain.

That’s the agenda for Saturday’s , the annual event hosted by the Marin County Parks, the and to both learn more about and clean up the 35 acres of rolling hills hovering above the Alto neighborhood.

“It’s going to be a good day and a lot of folks are looking forward to working and getting to know the horses and horse owners on the hill,” said Greg Reza, the volunteer program coordinator for the Marin County Parks and Open Space District.

The hill has a rich history. After a protracted struggle to preserve the land by local residents and horse owners, the City of Mill Valley acquired the land in 1990, and donated it two years later to the Marin County Parks and Open Space District, permanently preserving it as open space. What followed was a balancing act between the district, which manages the land, and the nonprofit Alto Bowl Horseowners' Association, which represents the horse owners who have used the land since 1971 and manages the horse-related infrastructure at the base of the hill.

Reza said volunteers, which is expected to include students from , have the chance to see the horses up close, and discover their unique and entertaining personalities. He encourages attendees to wear warm clothing and bring water.

To find out if the event, which goes from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., is cancelled because of rain, call (415) 473-3778 after 7 a.m. Saturday to hear a recorded message. Meet near the intersection of Lomita Drive and Greenfield Court. Directions: from East Blithedale Avenue, turn right at Tower Driver, stay right at Meadow Drive and turn left at Lomita Drive.