Honoring Herb Grench
Herb Grench at Windy Hill Open Space Preserve.
Sempervirens Fund joins the conservation community in mourning the passing of Herb Grench, a visionary leader whose efforts helped shape the Bay Area’s open space landscape. Herb dedicated his life to protecting the natural world, and his contributions continue to benefit our region’s forests, wildlife, and communities.
In the early 1970s, Herb played a pivotal role in establishing lasting protections for open space. Recognizing the need for a local entity to acquire and steward lands in perpetuity, he helped lead the charge for the creation of the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District (Midpen).
His leadership—alongside fellow advocates—helped gather 5,000 signatures to qualify Measure R, the “Room to Breathe Initiative,” for the ballot. Thanks to their efforts, the measure passed in 1972 with overwhelming support, ensuring permanent conservation of open space lands in the Santa Cruz Mountains and beyond.
Herb Grench on the trail at Castle Rock State Park.
Herb went on to become Midpen’s first general manager, where he oversaw the preservation of 30,000 acres of open space across 25 regional preserves. He was also a leading voice in recommending Peninsula Open Space Trust (POST) be established in 1977, which has since safeguarded more than 89,000 acres of natural lands, farms, and parklands.
Beyond his professional achievements, Herb was known for his warm spirit, thoughtful approach to conservation, and ability to find common ground. His leadership extended to his work as a Palo Alto planning commissioner and as an active member of the Audubon Society (now the Bird Alliance).
His legacy is honored at Windy Hill Open Space Preserve, where a trail and lookout bear his name—fitting recognition for a man who devoted his life to ensuring future generations could experience the beauty of California’s landscapes.
Herb was an inspiration to the conservation community and to generations of outdoors enthusiasts and his family. As we reflect on Herb’s contributions, we at Sempervirens Fund remain inspired by his vision and commitment to preserving the places we love. His work laid the foundation for conservation efforts that continue today, protecting redwood forests and open spaces across the Santa Cruz Mountains.
You too can honor Herb by making a gift to grow the forests he helped protect.