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New East Bay Park District Board members sworn in Tuesday

January 18, 2023 By Publisher Leave a Comment

Rep. Mark DeSaulnier swears in Directors Olivia Sanwong, John Mercurio, and Colin Coffey as new Board President Dennis Waespi watches on Jan. 17, 2023. Photos: EBRPD

Plus, “Passing of the Gavel” ceremony for 2023 Board Officers

By Dave Mason, Public Information Supervisor, Public Affairs, East Bay Regional Park District

Karen McClendon administered the oath of office for Director Waespi.

The East Bay Regional Park District held a swearing-in ceremony for four newly elected Board members during its January 17, 2023 Board of Directors meeting with Congressman Mark DeSaulnier and one of the District’s longest serving employees delivering the oaths of office.

New Directors Olivia Sanwong for Ward 5 and John Mercurio for Ward 6, along with Director Colin Coffey in his second term representing Ward 7 were sworn in by Congressman Mark DeSaulnier who was also recognized for his many contributions to the Park District. Director Dennis Waespi in his third term for Ward 3 was sworn in by Karen McClendon, a Park District employee with over 38 years of service who remains a stalwart in the District.

In a ceremonial “passing of the gavel”, outgoing Board President Coffey handed the leadership role to the new Board President, Director Waespi. President Waespi and the Board of Directors expressed appreciation to Director Coffey for his leadership over the past year. Waespi was elected to the Board in 2014 and served as board president in 2018.

“I am honored to serve as the Board President for 2023,” said new Board President Dennis Waespi. “As Board President, I intend to continue advancing the Park District’s mission of providing parks, shorelines, and trails for safe and healthful recreation and environmental education, while preserving natural wildlife habitat and natural and cultural resources.”

The Board officers named for 2023 are Vice President Elizabeth Echols, Treasurer Ellen Corbett, and Secretary Dee Rosario.

For information about the East Bay Regional Park District, visit ebparks.org. To learn more about its Board of Directors, visit www.ebparks.org/board-and-staff/board.

The East Bay Regional Park District is the largest regional park system in the nation, comprising 73 parks, 55 miles of shoreline, and over 1,300 miles of trails for hiking, biking, horseback riding, and environmental education. The Park District receives more than 25 million visits annually throughout Alameda and Contra Costa counties in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Filed Under: Bay Area, Government, News, Parks, Politics & Elections

Save Mount Diablo expands free Discover Diablo Hikes and Outings Program for 2023

January 15, 2023 By Publisher Leave a Comment

Discover Diablo hikers exploring in Del Puerto Canyon. Credit: Sean Burke.

Begins January 21st

By Laura Kindsvater, Communications Manager, Save Mount Diablo

CONTRA COSTA, STANISLAUS, AND SAN BENITO COUNTIES— Explore some of the East Bay’s premiere hiking and natural areas with Save Mount Diablo in 2023, including places rarely open to the public. The Discover Diablo outings series offers guided hikes, themed walks, and other outdoor activities: mountain biking; rock climbing; trail running; meditation in nature; plein air painting events; and property tours. All are free to the public. Trailblazers of all ages and skill levels are welcome to choose appropriate outings from our extensive offerings.

In response to growing demand, Save Mount Diablo is offering a total of 36 excursions. The ever-popular tarantula walk will be offered twice, and we are offering two plein air painting walks, two meditation hikes, and a trail run in 2023.

We will also be offering rock-climbing outings, mountain-biking events, and bilingual hikes in Spanish and English.

Generously sponsored by the Martinez Refining Company, the 2023 Discover Diablo free public hikes and outings series will begin on January 21.

“Through the Discover Diablo series, people are fortunate to be able to explore and discover the beauty of Mount Diablo with experienced guides,” said Ann Notarangelo, Community Relations Manager for the Martinez Refining Company. “Our refinery has sponsored these hikes since 2017 in the hopes people will enjoy learning more about the mountain, while spending quality time with family and friends.”

Discover Diablo hikers checking out the view from Bob Walker Ridge in Morgan Territory Regional Preserve. Credit: Jennifer Willen

The Discover Diablo program was started by Save Mount Diablo in 2017 to connect local communities with the spectacular natural world of the Mount Diablo area and to build awareness about land conservation.

Hikes and outings take place on one of Save Mount Diablo’s conserved properties or on park lands in the Diablo Range. These include Mount Diablo State Park, East Bay Regional Park District, Walnut Creek Open Space Foundation, Stanislaus County, and National Park Service lands.

Discover Diablo hikes are guided by experts steeped in the natural history and lore of the region, who both educate and entertain while emphasizing the breathtaking beauty that the Diablo Range has to offer.

Save Mount Diablo hopes the Discover Diablo series will spark a passion for the Diablo Range and deepen people’s connections to the land and nature. All Discover Diablo hikes are subject to, and will honor, all applicable COVID-19–related restrictions then in place for our area.

According to Ted Clement, Executive Director of Save Mount Diablo, “It is the goal of the Discover Diablo program to build connections between people, Save Mount Diablo, and the land, helping our communities develop a strong sense of place and a deepened appreciation for our collective backyard. Most importantly, we want to cultivate a love of the land in participants, as that is what it will take to ensure the precious Mount Diablo associated natural areas are taken care of for generations to come.”

There is something for us all to discover in the nooks and crannies surrounding Mount Diablo and within its sustaining Diablo Range, so be sure to hit the trails in 2023 and find your own individual inspiration!

RSVP required. To ensure everyone has an equal opportunity to attend, registration for hikes and outings in March onward will open two months prior to each hike’s date.

See our schedule of upcoming hikes and outings below or view and RSVP online here: https://savemountdiablo.org/what-we-do/educating-and-inspiring-people/discover-diablo-hikes-outings/

You can also download and print a flyer of the schedule here: http://bit.ly/DiscoverDiablo

Questions about hike program details and RSVP information: Denise Castro, Education and Outreach Associate, Save Mount Diablo C: 925-286-9327, dcastro@savemountdiablo.org

Filed Under: Bay Area, Environment, Parks, Recreation

Mt. Diablo Beacon Lighting Ceremony Wednesday, Dec. 7

December 5, 2022 By Publisher Leave a Comment

Mount Diablo Summit Beacon. By Stephen Joseph.

On Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day

By Laura Kindsvater, Communications Manager, Save Mount Diablo  

On December 7th, Mount Diablo’s Beacon will be relit by a survivor of Pearl Harbor supported by a Save Mount Diablo team.

The Sons and Daughters of Pearl Harbor Survivors, Chapter 5 are pleased to co-sponsor this 59th Annual National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day Beacon Lighting Ceremony with Save Mount Diablo, California State Parks, and California State University, East Bay.

We invite you to attend the ceremony to pay tribute to the lives that were lost and honor our surviving veterans of Pearl Harbor. The ceremony will be held at the California State University, East Bay Concord Campus, at 4700 Ygnacio Valley Road in Concord.

Viewing of the new USS Arizona exhibit at the CSUEB Concord Campus will be available from 3:00 PM to 3:45 PM as well as 45 minutes post ceremony. The ceremony will commence at 3:45 PM.

The program begins with the posting of colors, pledge of allegiance, and national anthem.

Ted Clement, Executive Director of Save Mount Diablo; Clint Elsholz, Acting Diablo Range District Superintendent for California State Parks; and Robert Phelps, PhD, Executive Director of California State University, East Bay Concord Campus will then speak.

Pearl Harbor survivors in attendance will be introduced by Wayne Korsinen, honorary member of the Sons and Daughters of Pearl Harbor Survivors.

A performance of “God Bless the USA” by Erin Hegerty and guitar solo by Darren Brouestle will follow. Then Catharine Baker, former State Assemblymember, will speak. Afterwards, Frank Dorritie of Bugles Across America will perform “Taps.” At 5 PM, the Beacon will be lit.

“The Beacon lighting is a tribute to those individuals that lost their lives at Pearl Harbor,” remarked Earl “Chuck” Kohler, the last known remaining serviceman survivor in Contra Costa County.

The ceremony is also an opportunity to honor the survivors.

The ceremony will also be broadcast on Contra Costa Television during the following dates and times:

  • Wednesday, December 14 at 7 PM
  • Thursday, December 15 at 2 AM
  • Saturday, December 17 at 5:30 PM
  • Monday, December 19 at 8 PM
  • Tuesday, December 20 at 10 AM
  • Wednesday, December 21 at 5 PM
  • Thursday, December 22 at 6 PM

The Beacon on Mount Diablo was originally installed and illuminated in 1928 to aid in transcontinental aviation. It is one of the four guiding beacons installed along the west coast by Standard Oil of California and is the only one known to still be operational.

After the attack on Pearl Harbor, the Beacon’s light was extinguished during the west coast blackout, for fear it could enable an attack on California. It stayed dark until Pearl Harbor Day in 1964, when Fleet Admiral Chester Nimitz, Commander in Chief of Pacific Forces during World War II, relit the Beacon in a commemorative ceremony and suggested it be illuminated every December 7th to honor those who served and sacrificed.

Since that day, Pearl Harbor veterans and their families have gathered every December 7th to see the Beacon light shine once again.

The Beacon now shines brighter than ever since it underwent an extensive restoration process in 2013 (thanks to a campaign led by Save Mount Diablo) to ensure it continues to shine for many more years. The Pearl Harbor Survivors now know that the Beacon will shine long after they are gone.

The Beacon is lit at sunset and shines all night on this evening each year. Beginning this year, it was also lit on Memorial Day and Veterans Day. On Sunday, April 11, 2021, Save Mount Diablo concluded a year of lighting the Beacon weekly to bring light and hope to our region during the worst of the pandemic.

Save Mount Diablo

Save Mount Diablo is a nationally accredited, nonprofit land trust founded in 1971 with a mission

to preserve Mount Diablo’s peaks, surrounding foothills, watersheds, and connection to the Diablo Range through land acquisition and preservation strategies designed to protect the mountain’s natural beauty, biological diversity, and historic and agricultural heritage; enhance our area’s quality of life; and provide educational and recreational opportunities consistent with protection of natural resources. To learn more, please visit www.savemountdiablo.org.

What:  Save Mount Diablo; the Sons and Daughters of Pearl Harbor Survivors Association, Chapter 5; and California State Parks will light the “Eye of Diablo,” the Beacon atop Mount Diablo to memorialize National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day. As the number of survivors has decreased over the years, the number of people attending the ceremony in honor of these heroes has increased, including many sons and daughters vital to organizing the service.

When: Wednesday, December 7th, 2022

USS Arizona viewing begins at 3:00 PM, ceremony at 3:45 PM, Beacon lighting at 5:00 PM

Where: The ceremony will be held at the California State University, East Bay Concord Campus, 4700 Ygnacio Valley Road, in Concord.

Directions: http://goo.gl/maps/jXhcW

Access: Parking is available on campus, and parking fees will be waived for this event. See campus map.

For more information on the Beacon:

https://savemountdiablo.org/experience/events-outings/beacon-lighting/

Filed Under: Central County, History, Military, Parks, Veterans

Save Mount Diablo purchases Krane Pond property option in North Peak’s “Missing Mile”

November 15, 2022 By Publisher Leave a Comment

The Krane Pond property. Photo: Scott Hein

Has year to raise $500,000 to close deal

By Laura Kindsvater, Communications Manager, Save Mount Diablo  

Save Mount Diablo has secured an option agreement to purchase the Krane Pond property, a 6.69-acre parcel directly adjacent to Clayton and Mount Diablo State Park. The property is part of the “Missing Mile,” a square mile of private land on the slopes of North Peak and Save Mount Diablo’s fourth acquisition project there. The Krane Pond property has been a priority for 50 years, includes a large spring-fed pond that is very important for wildlife, and is adjacent to Mount Diablo State Park. In addition, an on-site building pad, neighboring subdivision, and fragmented ranchette landscape nearby all indicate what might take place if the property isn’t protected.

A jewel within Mount Diablo, the Krane Pond property has been a priority since Save Mount Diablo was founded in 1971. If Save Mount Diablo can raise $500,000 within the next year—two $25,000 options to hold the property, a $400,000 purchase price, and $50,000 for initial stewardship—then the Krane Pond property will be permanently protected.

Map of the location of the Krane Pond property in the “Missing Mile” on the north slopes of Mount Diablo’s North Peak. Source: Save Mount Diablo

“The Missing Mile is one of our high priority land acquisition areas. This area is roughly a square mile made up of numerous privately owned open space acres that have not yet been conserved or developed. The Missing Mile is on the slopes of Mount Diablo itself, and the area is contiguous with important conservation lands like Mount Diablo State Park.

“Over time, we have successfully done multiple land acquisition projects in the Missing Mile: we successfully acquired a perpetual conservation easement on almost 154 acres of the Concord Mt. Diablo Trail Ride Association land earlier this year; in 2016 we got about 88 acres of North Peak Ranch under an agreement that will have us acquire that land in fee simple title in 2026; and in 2006 we acquired the fee simple title to the 17.62-acre Young Canyon property.

“Thus, amidst our 50th anniversary celebrations, it was very special to recently secure an option to purchase, and a purchase and sale agreement on the Krane Pond property, which is located in the Missing Mile. Now we have one year to raise the necessary funds to ensure this important Krane Pond property is permanently protected,” said Save Mount Diablo Executive Director Ted Clement.

The Krane family. Photo courtesy Roseann Krane

In 1978, Walter and Roseann Krane purchased 6.7 acres of land on the outskirts of Clayton bordered by Mount Diablo State Park and the meridian on the west side, Mount Diablo Creek on the north side, and property held by ranchers to the east. The parcel is accessed by a little bridge that crosses over Mount Diablo Creek. The Kranes originally had plans to build a house for themselves and their two boys on the mountainside lot, which has grand views and great oaks, and back then had a 25-foot-deep lake. It’s become shallower over the years.

“Instead of building a house,” said Roseann Krane, “we decided to preserve the land. Walt loved the outdoors and our family camped and fished all over California. Walt adored our boys and was an Assistant Scoutmaster for 11 years. He bought 200 bass and stocked the lake and helped the kids build a dock. We spent time with Indian Guides, Boy Scouts, soccer, and many friends picnicking, swimming, boating, fishing, and horseback riding at the site. Wildlife we observed visiting the property included many deer, bucks, songbirds, ducks, ground squirrels, rattlesnakes, and a great blue heron.

“We have been long-time supporters of Save Mount Diablo. When Walt retired in 2000, he became a professional artist and donated his oil paintings to Save Mount Diablo’s Moonlight on the Mountain fundraiser.

“Last May 2021, Walt passed away from leukemia. I thought that the best way to honor Walt’s memory and love of the outdoors, was having our open space preserved by Save Mount Diablo, and eventually be part of the state park system.”

The Krane Pond property is part of North Peak’s Young Canyon and is bordered by a small spur ridge. Its ecological significance eclipses its size. The property includes one of the largest ponds on the north side of Mount Diablo and is critically important for Mount Diablo’s wildlife. It can help sustain a multitude of species from ground squirrels to mountain lions and even rarer endangered species such as California red-legged frogs and Alameda whipsnakes.

Development has carved its way into Diablo’s foothills below the property’s border. Krane was threatened by Clayton’s Marsh Creek Specific Plan 30 years ago while a neighboring parcel was developed into the Oakwood Estates subdivision. Save Mount Diablo helped shrink the specific plan, and the county and Clayton’s Urban Limit Lines gained strength over the years. Krane is adjacent to the Clayton city limits but just outside the Urban Limit Line.

The Krane Pond property is directly adjacent to Mount Diablo State Park and harbors a large pond that is essential for wildlife. Photo: Sean Burke

Had developers acquired this property, they would have graded the ridge and developed much of the acreage. Protecting this property halts development in its tracks, saving more of Mount Diablo’s open space.

Beginning in 1971 SMD’s co-founder, botanist Mary Bowerman, began creating acquisition priority lists based on her decades of research on the mountain. The Missing Mile properties, including Krane, were high on the list.

During the fundraising period for the $500,000, Save Mount Diablo will survey the property boundaries, which will be necessary for work on property fencing and dam repair. If fundraising is successful, initial stewardship will include fence repair and maintenance of the pond’s earthen dam.

Save Mount Diablo staff at the Krane Pond property. Photo: Scott Hein

About Save Mount Diablo

Save Mount Diablo is a nationally accredited, nonprofit land trust founded in 1971 with a mission to preserve Mount Diablo’s peaks, surrounding foothills, watersheds, and connection to the Diablo Range through land acquisition and preservation strategies designed to protect the mountain’s natural beauty, biological diversity, and historic and agricultural heritage; enhance our area’s quality of life; and provide educational and recreational opportunities consistent with protection of natural resources. To learn more, please visit www.savemountdiablo.org.

Filed Under: Central County, News, Parks, Recreation

Take a tour of the Vasco Caves Regional Preserve in October

September 30, 2022 By Publisher Leave a Comment

Filed Under: East County, Parks, Recreation

California State Parks Adventure Pass available for 4th graders and families

July 9, 2022 By Publisher Leave a Comment

By California State Parks

Hey, fourth graders! Are you ready for an adventure?

The California State Park Adventure Pass is just for you. See how you can visit some of the most amazing parks in the country with your family and friends—for free.

What?

In partnership with the First Partner’s Office and the Natural Resources Agency, the California State Park Adventure Pass provides free entry for fourth graders and their families at 19 amazing state parks throughout the state. Mountains, deserts, forests, rivers … the choice of where to visit is yours.

Who?

You (a fourth grader from California), your family (up to three adults and other kids) and friends (everyone in your car) can enjoy all sorts of adventures at 19 state parks during your whole fourth grade year—and the summer after, too. (So, it’s good this summer for those going into fifth grade).

How?

Have your parent or guardian go to ReserveCalifornia.com or call (800) 444-7275. All they have to do is set up a profile by providing their name, address, phone number and email address, and we’ll send them your free California State Park Adventure Pass to their email right away!  For individuals that do not have access to a smartphone, computer or printer and/or do not have an email address to use when applying online, they can still apply for a pass by visiting a State Parks Pass Sales Office. Click here for a list of locations.

Where?

Once you have your Pass, you can use it by either printing it out or keeping it on your phone to show a uniformed state park staffer at one of these 19 state parks.

Recreate Responsibly

Getting into the outdoors is the perfect way to connect with nature, family and friends but it is important to do so responsibly. Please protect yourself and your family by learning about the park you are visiting before heading out, wearing appropriate clothing, staying prepared by bringing the essentials like enough food and water, and knowing your comfort level to avoid injuries. For additional safety tips, click here.

Your Parents Speak Spanish?

¿Tus padres hablan español? Tenemos personal que les pueden ayudar en su idioma. Diles a tus padres que nos llamen por teléfono al 1-800-444-7275 o nos visiten en ReserveCalifornia.com

Learn more at www.parks.ca.gov/AdventurePass

 

Filed Under: Parks, Recreation, State of California

East Bay Parks offer Free Park Day for Juneteenth Sunday

June 17, 2022 By Publisher Leave a Comment

Hike of Celebration and Reflection at Thurgood Marshall Regional Park in Concord

By Dave Mason, Public Information Supervisor, East Bay Regional Park District

The Park District is celebrating Juneteenth this year with a Free Park Day in recognition of the date when enslaved Black Americans in Texas were notified of their freedom, two and a half years after the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation. While Confederate General Robert E. Lee surrendered to U.S.  General Ulysses S. Grant in April 1865, fighting continued in Texas for nearly two months. On June 2, 1865, Confederate General Edmund Kirby Smith finally surrendered. A few weeks later, on June 19, U.S. troops landed in Galveston, Texas, confirming the end of the Civil War and slavery in Texas. Today, the abolition of slavery and emancipation of Black Americans in Texas is celebrated on June 19 annually as Juneteenth.

The Park District is committed to enhancing diversity, equity, and inclusion, and making our parks and agency more welcoming and reflective of the communities we serve. Park District fees waived on Juneteenth include park entrance, parking, dogs, horses, boat launching, and fishing. However, the fee waiver does not apply to swimming, camping, reservable picnic facilities (due to capacity limits), District concessions, and state fees for fishing licenses, and watercraft inspections for invasive mussels.

The Park District is celebrating Juneteenth with several naturalist-led programs, including a Hike of Celebration and Reflection at Thurgood Marshall Regional Park – Home of the Port Chicago 50.

For more information about Juneteenth, visit www.ebparks.org/Juneteenth.

 

Filed Under: History, News, Parks

CA State Parks Week: Weeding for Biodiversity on Mt. Diablo Friday, June 17

June 16, 2022 By Publisher Leave a Comment

Diablo Overlook. Panorama photo by Elise McFarland. Source: CA State Parks

9:00 am FREE

As part of Stewardship Day during California State Parks Week, learn about the amazing variety of plant life at Mount Diablo State Park which includes species that are only found here. Threatening this rich diversity are some species that can turn an area with many types of plants into an area where there is only one. You can help as we pitch in with our park biologist to remove one of these invasive plants from an area of the park. Reservations required. Group size limited to 15.

Meet at 2675 Mt Diablo Scenic Blvd. in Danville.

For reservations and information email sharon.peterson@parks.ca.gov or visitcastateparksweek.org/event/weeding-for-biodiversity/.

There are more opportunities to participate in State Parks Week on Friday and during Partnership Day / Volunteer Day on Saturday, June 18. Enjoy the over 279 park units, from the redwood forests on the North Coast to the sunny beaches in Southern California, that preserve and protect the best of California’s natural and cultural history, from natural features and ecosystems to historic structures and cultural resources.

Filed Under: Parks, Recreation, San Ramon Valley

Tours of new regional park at former Roddy Ranch Golf course in Antioch May 7

April 8, 2022 By Publisher Leave a Comment

Hikers during the Open House event at the new regional park at the former Roddy Ranch golf course in Antioch on Sept 25, 2021. Photo: EBRPD

By Eddie Willis, Planner, Planning, Trails, and GIS, East Bay Regional Park District

I am happy to announce that East Bay Regional Park District will be offering guided tours of the former Roddy Ranch Golf Course this spring! It is an opportunity to see the site in-person, learn more about the recently released preferred design concept, and to ask questions and provide feedback to the planning team. The tours will cover about 1.5 miles of former cart paths with various stops along the way to highlight features of the design plans and natural history elements. Registration is required.

Two tours will be offered on Saturday, May 7, 2022 at the following times:

  • 9:30am-11:30am(program #44166)
  • Noon-2pm(program #44169)

Registration will open tomorrow, April 8 at 9am. You can reserve online or by calling 1-888-EBPARKS (1-888-327-2757), option 2. Please sign up for one tour, with space limited to two participants per reservation.

Of course, please let me know if you have any questions and be sure to go out and enjoy your Regional Parks!

Filed Under: East County, Parks

Save Mount Diablo opens its Mangini Ranch Educational Preserve to the public

April 2, 2022 By Publisher Leave a Comment

Students gather around a giant oak at the Mangini Ranch Educational Preserve. Photo: Scott Hein.

First of its kind in Contra Costa County; 207.8-acre preserve available for free to local schools, groups

By Laura Kindsvater, Communications Manager, Save Mount Diablo

On March 30, 2022, Save Mount Diablo opened its Mangini Ranch Educational Preserve to the public, the first of its kind in Contra Costa County. People gathered at a special ceremony at the preserve during which Assemblymember Rebecca Bauer-Kahan and Save Mount Diablo Board President Jim Felton cut the ribbon to celebrate the opening.

The 207.8-acre preserve is situated between the Crystyl Ranch residential development in Concord and Lime Ridge Open Space in Walnut Creek.

Save Mount Diablo’s Mangini Ranch Educational Preserve is available for reservations free of charge to a variety of local schools and community groups, of all ages and backgrounds, pursuing educational purposes. Examples include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • environmental science classes
  • nature photography courses
  • yoga classes
  • plein-air artists gatherings
  • addiction recovery groups
  • acoustic music in nature ensembles
  • meditation classes
  • grief counseling support groups
  • church groups
  • homeowners association groups
  • hiking, trail running, and mountain bike clubs

Interested groups can submit a request to reserve the property for a day up to six months in advance by utilizing the online form on Save Mount Diablo’s website. The size of a group must be at least three people to no larger than 100 people. The preserve is day-use only (no camping). Location and access will be provided upon reservation. A docent will be on-sight to provide access, an overview of the property and any assistance.

The preserve includes grassland, stream canyons, blue oak woodland, chaparral, and oak savannas.

It’s home to rare species such as the northernmost stand of desert olive, rare Hospital Canyon larkspur, and threatened Alameda whipsnake. Deer, coyote, burrowing owls, kestrels, and lots of other wildlife live here too.

The preserve’s high ridgeline provides views of most of central Contra Costa County and to Marin, Sonoma, and Solano counties.

As you move away from the staging area of the preserve and into the open space along Galindo Creek and up the ridgeline, the sounds of cars and radios fade. They become birdsong and gentle breezes rustling through trees.

Here you will find you are transported into another space where senses are heightened and connecting to nature is inevitable.

About Save Mount Diablo

Save Mount Diablo is a nationally accredited, nonprofit land trust founded in 1971 with a mission

to preserve Mount Diablo’s peaks, surrounding foothills, watersheds, and connection to the Diablo Range through land acquisition and preservation strategies designed to protect the mountain’s natural beauty, biological diversity, and historic and agricultural heritage; enhance our area’s quality of life; and provide educational and recreational opportunities consistent with protection of natural resources. To learn more, please visit www.savemountdiablo.org.

Filed Under: Central County, News, Parks, Recreation

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