The City of Menifee has acquired 398 acres of open space in the area known as Menifee Hills, paving the way for future recreational opportunities. The acquisition includes 19 parcels and represents a major step in preserving natural land for public use.
Located on the east side of the city— west of Menifee Road, north of Aldergate Drive, east of Antelope Road, and south of McCall Boulevard—the property was purchased for $1,150,000, which is below market value. The city council unanimously approved the purchase to ensure the Menifee Hills remain a permanent public open space.
This investment advances key Strategic Plan goals for the City of Menifee related to placemaking, social infrastructure, and equitable access to recreational opportunities. It also directly supports the city’s adopted 2023 Parks Master Plan, which identifies open space preservation and land acquisition as essential strategies to meet long-term park and recreation needs.
“Providing more recreational opportunities and preserving open space have been frequent requests we continue to receive from the community,” Mayor Ricky Estrada said. “This land purchase presented a historic opportunity to accomplish both these objectives and ensure that these hills remain untouched by development.”
Visible for miles around, the Menifee Hills offer sweeping panoramic views of the valley, presenting additional opportunities for eco-tourism and active recreational tourism, such as hiking and mountain biking. The site location also presents an opportunity to support the extension of the Salt Creek Trail between Antelope Road and Aldergate Drive.
Funding for the land purchase was made available through a one-time community benefit as part of the Commerce Pointe Development Agreement for public facilities. Any proposed improvements would be presented for consideration as part of a future update to the city’s Capital Improvement Program and will include opportunities for the public to provide input.
