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One of North County's Premier Natural Areas
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In 1970, a group of concerned citizens realized that the Wilderness Gardens Area, just east of the Pala Indian Reservation,
was in danger of being degraded by development and goat grazing. In one of the County's earliest acts of environmental
activism, Mrs. Berniece Watson and Yolanda Fleet organized a fundraising drive which secured enough money to purchase the
761 acre preserve. In 1972, the Wilderness Gardens Preserve was turned over to the County of San Diego Parks Department,
to be managed jointly with the Friends of Wilderness Gardens Committee.
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Such environmental activism, heavily supported at that time by the Escondido Citizens' Ecology Committee, is
the root of all forward progress. Today, Wilderness Gardens continues to be a wonderful hiking area, wildlife preserve and
natural retreat. It all started more than 40 years ago, and will benefit people and wildlife for hundreds of years to come.
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"To Protect, Preserve and Enhance Escondido's Environment"
Copyright 1971, Escondido Citizens' Ecology Committee
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