Ohlone Indians Rally to Save Santa Clara's Final Open Space

A plan to develop the city of Santa Clara's last parcel of open space into a soccer complex is drawing opposition from Ohlone Indians, according to reports.

A soccer complex is being turned into a parking lot for the new 49ers stadium. It may be relocated to the Ulistac Natural Preserve -- which may also contain an Ohlone burial ground. And the prospect of the city's only woodland and wetland open space being developed is causing problems, according to the San Jose Mercury News.

Keeping Ulistac, which was turned from a "weed-ridden former golf course" into a nature preserve thanks to 10,000 volunteer hours, is important to the Confederation of Ohlone people, the newspaper reported.

"About 40 Indians and their supporters" marched 5 miles on Sunday from the Santa Clara Mission to an 150-person rally at the preserve, the newspaper reported.

The City Council could approve the soccer complex -- or scrap it, as rally attendees hope, in favor of an even-bigger sports complex "at a different location," the newspaper reported.

If the soccer complex is approved, opponents plan to defeat it at the ballot.

The Ohlone people also point out that the Ulistac Natural Preserve was supposed to remain in perpetuity -- such protection was "promised" by city leaders.