Posts by diablotrailhistory
JOHN MUIR LAND TRUST
JMLT mission statement is as humble as their organization. We protect and care for open space, ranches, farms, parkland and shoreline in the East Bay. Started in 1989, they have a very different model than that of the other large land trust in our area (Save Mount Diablo) and we are blessed to have two…
Read MoreSAVE MOUNT DIABLO LAND TRUST
This organization has been protecting lands in and around Mount Diablo since 1971. They saw a need for a local voice to protect our open spaces. Local action is critical to attracting public funds that might otherwise go elsewhere. SMD steps in to purchase properties that later can be integrated into EBRPD or Mount Diablo…
Read MoreMY EASEMENT STORY
My wife thinks I am crazy because I doggedly fight what I see as injustices when it comes to trail and easement promises by developers to the public. These issues are complicated and more prevalent than one might think. Here is a recounting of some of my fights. Our family moved from Danville to Alamo…
Read MoreLOVE THE TRAIL DOGS
Trail Dogs The Unsung Heros of our local trails Who exactly builds trails and then Who maintains them? The State Park has some bandwidth for trail work but not enough. Walnut Creek Open Spaces have their Rangers and EBRPD has some budget and people power to do trail work but the Trail Dog crew work…
Read MoreMITCHELL CANYON
The Mitchell Canyon Staging area was made possible by the substantial purchases of Murchio property. If I told you from another 2,000-acre ranch would you believe me? This time the purchase is high up the mountain and spilling over onto the Clayton side and like the Kerley Parcels, this one was transacted over two different…
Read MoreMACEDO RANCH
The name Macedo Ranch suggests that the State probably bought the land from the Macedo family. Well that would be only partially true as Macedo Ranch was the target of developers and was saved by the State Park purchase in 1977-1978. This is an interesting story and a critical connector within the State Park. In…
Read MoreFRYER TO KERLEY
Pine Canyon Dams and Reservoirs Little Pine Creek and Pine Canyon had always been a source of water for local ranchers but in 1906 an attempt was made to collect and export water to the local growing communities. Far right column April 4, 1906 states Frank Gavin filed for the rights to erect a dam…
Read MoreWALKER TO BURGESS TO GINOCHIO
Walker Family History along Northgate Road The history of Contra Costa County discussing early settlers in Rancho Arroyo De Las Nueces Y Bolbones (Walnut Creek) states: One of the early American settlers on this rancho was James T. Walker, who acquired some 1,400 acres in the 1980s and in 1868 built a home that is…
Read MoreTODAY’S DIABLO PARK ACCESS
In 1975, the Diablo Lakes development and residential lot splits were creeping down towards the original Lot 255, the end of the original 1916 Diablo parcels. The open space community was up in arms, petitioning the developers and the County to protect access to Dan Cook Canyon and the State Park roads and trails. The…
Read More1970s DIABLO LAKES DISRUPTION
Larry Curtola in 1948 purchased the Diablo Country Club land, buildings, and unsold lots and significant vacant property and proceeded to move and shake to his heart’s content. He is widely recognized as the savior of the Country Club but is not often recognized for how he pushed for more and more development. Page one…
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