To ensure communities are resilient to a changing climate and inclusive for all to thrive, we must employ innovative development ideas that leverage nature-based solutions. Sunnyvale’s Moffett Park area is poised for this exact type of development, also known as an eco-innovation district. How? Attend this outing to find out! 

During this outing, we’ll share a picture with you of what the future could hold for Moffett Park. A future where technology, diverse economic opportunities, access to nature, affordable housing, and nature-based solutions to climate change all come together in one location. We know this sounds like a lot, but we’ll have experts and visual aides to guide us along the way—starting with Moffett Park’s history and walking us through how the area can be transformed into a place that’s inclusive for all and resilient to climate impacts. 

This is the second outing of our three-part series in Moffett Park. Over the course of these outings, we hope to bring the community along in a visioning process to explore the climate-smart benefits this currently underutilized part of the city has to offer! 

Round Trip Distance (approximate elevation gain)

This is an easy 1.5-mile walk on mostly level terrain.

Weather Policy

Rain postpones

Cost

The outing is free.

Getting There

Address: 1265 Borregas, Sunnyvale, CA

Street parking is available and a guide will be present to gather the group.

Notes

Bring your own water and a light lunch or snack. Dress in layers and wear good walking shoes. If you have questions feel free to email Ken at klavin@greenbelt.org.

About the Outing Leaders

Laura Feinstein is SPUR’s sustainability and resilience policy director, leading our work on climate mitigation, adaptation, and environmental justice. Laura has published on California climate policy, safe and affordable drinking water, sea level rise, and drought adaptation. Previously she worked as a senior researcher at the Pacific Institute, a research scientist and project manager at California Council on Science and Technology, and a fellow with the California Senate Committee on Environmental Quality. She was a California SeaGrant Delta Science Fellow and has been recognized by the California Senate for her service to the state. She holds a B.A. from U.C. Berkeley in anthropology, and a Ph.D. from U.C. Davis in ecology.

Jeff Holzman is a Director in Google’s real estate development group, creating vibrant, healthy places where Google and our local communities will thrive. He oversees all new real estate development for Google in the Moffett Park district of Sunnyvale, California, which will ultimately become a new 1,200-acre mixed-use neighborhood. Prior to joining Google, Jeff was with Sares-Regis Group of Northern California, as a Senior Vice President in the commercial real estate development group. Before that, he held positions in the development firm Wilson Meany Sullivan, as well as roles in real estate finance, investment banking, large scale masterplanning, and real estate investment. Jeff earned a BA with Honors in History from Stanford, and an MBA as a Haas Scholar at UC Berkeley. He is active in industry groups and the community, such as Urban Land Institute, Moffett Park Business Group, Stanford Real Estate Council, and the Bay Conservation and Development Commission.

Nadia Levi is a Development Manager for the district systems team at Lendlease working on the Moffett Park master plan. Her team is responsible for developing new, low-carbon district energy systems in Sunnyvale, Mountain View and San Jose. Nadia is a licensed Professional Engineer in Canada, a WELL Accredited Professional, and an accredited professional with EcoDistricts. She has over a decade of experience in sustainable and resilient engineering design and construction. She is also an expert contributor for the United Nations Economic Commission of Europe program, United for Smart Sustainable Cities, working on the Guidelines on Strategies for Circular Cities and the City Science Application Frameworks.

Ellen Plane is a scientist with the San Francisco Estuary Institute specializing in tidal wetland restoration and sea-level rise adaptation planning. Experienced in geospatial analysis and shoreline processes, Ellen has contributed to the development of multiple collaborative landscape visioning efforts including the Sonoma Creek Baylands Strategy and the Sunnyvale Shoreline Resilience Vision. Ellen’s work in SFEI’s Resilient Landscapes program is focused on planning for multiple benefits, including nature-based solutions for wastewater treatment and sea-level rise adaptation. She has also been a leader in mapping and investigating the impacts of sea-level rise on shallow groundwater in the Bay Area. Ellen received a BA in biology from Dartmouth College and Master of City Planning and Master of Landscape Architecture in Environmental Planning degrees from the University of California at Berkeley. 

Zoe Siegel is the Senior Director of Climate Resilience at Greenbelt Alliance. She brings adaptation and climate resilience to the forefront of the programmatic work for the organization. Bay Area native and current Oakland resident, Zoe is passionate about making sure our local communities are able to respond, adapt and thrive in light of current climate threats. She brings experience as a Program Manager for Resilient by Design where she helped lead the year-long effort to come up with innovative strategies for resilience around the region. Zoe holds a Masters in City and Regional Planning from Cornell University and a Bachelor of Arts in Human Geography from the University of British Columbia. She is also a LEED Green Associate.

Exploring Moffett Park Outing Series: Envisioning a Climate-smart, Inclusive Community for All

Greenbelt Alliance is excited to host a series of three outings in Sunnyvale’s Moffett Park area to explore the climate-smart benefits this currently underutilized part of the city has to offer! On these outings, we’ll take in spectacular views of the Bay and its inhabitants. As we admire the natural beauty of spring wildflowers and birdsong, we’ll also share a vision with you of how Moffett Park’s current parking lots and office spaces could be reimagined as a rejuvenated neighborhood where natural solutions are leveraged to build climate resilience while also providing homes for people from all walks of life. Each outing will cover a special element of this vision so stay tuned to learn more about the other outings in this three-part series!

Thank You to Our Sponsors

Outing Partners

This outing is co-hosted with our friends at SPUR. Please note that given this partnership, contact information will be shared with SPUR.

Cover Photo: Moffett Park by Iris Berke