Reviving a Local Treasure Along Las Trampas Creek

Leigh Creekside Park, nestled at the corner of Moraga Blvd. and 4th Street, is a 1.1-acre green space with deep roots in Lafayette's history. Once the original property of the Leigh family—long time city residents— the park has offered a peaceful retreat for neighbors seeking quiet and natural beauty since 1999.



Anchored by a magnificent centennial oak, bordered by Las Trampas Creek along its western edge, and a few steps away from the Lafayette-Moraga regional trail, the park feels like a step back in time. The passage of time and the spread of invasive plants have taken a toll. Non-native species have crowded out native flora, and aging infrastructure like fencing has fallen into disrepair.

🌱 A Community Effort to Restore Native Beauty

The Lamorinda Sunrise Rotary (LSR) Club has partnered with the Lafayette Creeks Committee and The Restoration Trust to restore the riparian area along Las Trampas Creek at Leigh Creekside Park. The riparian restoration along the creek is well underway, and as it unfolded, the LSR saw the need to include and revitalize Leigh Creekside Park as well, in keeping with its original natural design, and in collaboration with the Lafayette Parks Department.

Project Highlights:

• May 3, 2025 Kickoff: Over 20 volunteers and Rotary members gathered to remove invasive, non-native plants—a vital first step toward ecological restoration.
• May 31, 2025 Workday: Volunteers tackled persistent non-native growth and trimmed back overgrown grasses.
• August 2, 2025 Workday: Over 20 volunteers sheet mulched a large area on the northern side of the park for weed abatement. Three sections of fencing were replaced.
• November 8, 2025 Workday: Planted over 140 natives, including: Valley Oak, Ca Sycamore, Box elder, Dogwood, CA milkweed, Red flowering currant, Wild rose, Santa Barbara sedge, and Creeping wild rye.
• Next Phases: The project includes:
• Additional weed abatement
• Removal of invasive trees and berry bushes by professional contractors
• Fence and other light infrastructure repair
• Installation of temporary irrigation systems
• Planting native species to encourage long-term ecological health

🛠️ A Long-Term Vision

With funding and volunteers from Lamorinda Sunrise Rotary as well as neighborhood volunteers and logistical support from the City's Parks Department and Creeks Committee, this ongoing effort is about more than cleanup. It’s about preserving the park’s low-impact, natural character, restoring the wildlife corridor along the creek, and revitalizing native habitat in both areas for future generations.