New Cooley Landing Education Center Inaugurated in East Palo Alto

On Saturday April 16, the City of East Palo Alto and the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District inaugurated the new Cooley Landing Education Center. Designed by local architecture firm FOG Studio, the 4,000 square foot building is located on nine acres of reclaimed landfill that had served as the San Mateo County dump for decades.

The new Cooley Landing Education Center in East Palo Alto. Photo courtesy FOG Studio.

The mayor of East Palo Alto, Donna Rutherford, kickstarted the grand opening at 10 a.m. The ribbon cutting ceremony was followed by talks with elected officials at 11 a.m. The public then joined a fun-filled Spring Festival that included nature walks, community booths, art displays, food and kids' activities till 3 p.m.

Donna Rutherford, mayor of East Palo Alto at the grand opening of the Cooley Landing Education Center. Photo courtesy John Woodell.

The new Education Center building will house exhibits on local natural history, including two endangered species found only in the San Francisco Bay Area: the salt marsh harvest mouse and the Ridgway’s rail. The building provides meeting space and learning facilities for the community, as well as a venue for celebrations. A large multipurpose area is fitted out with audiovisual equipment for presentations, and served by a warming kitchen, storage and restrooms that is available to park visitors via a vestibule.

Cooley Landing was home to a brick manufacturing factory and a shipping dock before San Mateo County used it as a garbage dump between 1932 and 1960. The landfill was then covered with 2 feet of soil and turned into a park, and officially opened to the public in 2012. The Education Center was funded by a Prop 84 grant awarded to the City of East Palo Alto in 2011.

The San Francisco Bay Wildlife Society was proud to be a supporter on the opening day and was represented by Program Administrator Mary Deschene.

Elected public officials Ruben Abrica, Jackie Spier and Larry Moody at the Cooley Landing Education Center. Photo courtesy City of East Palo Alto.

Rich Gordon, Assemblymember, 24th Assembly District, congratulated the community of East Palo Alto on working together and celebrating open, natural space. Photo courtesy Rich Gordon.

Lisa Guthrie, former mayor of East Palo Alto, spoke on the occasion. Photo courtesy Marc Berman.

Members of the East Palo Alto community listen to Lisa Guthrie, former mayor. Photo courtesy John Woodell.

Rose Jacobs Gibson, former mayor of East Palo Alto, encouraged the community to build its dreams. Photo courtesy John Woodell.

Representative Anna Eshoo from California's 18th Congressional District reflected on the history of East Palo Alto. Photo courtesy John Woodell.

Members of the public at the Cooley Landing Education Center grand opening. Photo courtesy John Woodell.

A quilt created by local artist Linda Grass captures the original shoreline of Cooley Landing and is on display at the new Cooley Landing Education Center. Photo courtesy Don Tuttle / Rachael Myrow / KQED.

East Palo Alto community members enjoy the Spring Festival. Photo courtesy Warren Slocum.

Kids enjoy themselves at the Spring Festival. Photo courtesy Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District.