History of Open Space in Lafayette

This subcollection is about the history of those who passionately fought for our Open Space, resulting in the enhanced beauty of our city, including Lafayette’s designation as a Tree City in 1995 and a Bird City in 2019. Included in our collection are interviews with Grant Swift, Martin Ogle, and Karen Norback. Their stories demonstrate Lafayette’s physical transformation during a period of widespread population growth, urban development, and environmental protection efforts. Additionally, they illustrate how the city prioritized environmental education for youth and adults. Open space advocacy was one that was largely driven by the voices and preservation efforts from citizens, and stories from these oral histories include testimony of moments of Lafayette’s political history that resulted in today’s expansive trail and wildlife open space system.