Community groups can now reserve Mangini educational preserve

CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CA (Apr. 4, 2022) — In a first for Contra Costa County, Save Mount Diablo (SMD) opened the Mangini Ranch Educational Preserve to the public on March 30.

Assemblymember Rebecca Bauer-Kahan and SMD president Jim Felton cut the ribbon to celebrate the event.

The Mangini Ranch Educational Preserve makes reservations available  free of charge to local schools and community groups pursuing educational purposes. Examples include environmental science classes, nature photography courses, yoga classes, plein-air artist gatherings, addiction recovery groups, acoustic music in nature ensembles, meditation classes, grief counseling support groups, church groups, homeowners associations, and hiking, running and mountain bike clubs.

Interested groups can submit a request online to reserve the property for a day up to six months in advance. The group must consist of at least three people and no larger than 100. The preserve opens for day-use only; no camping.

Rare species habitat

The 207.8-acre preserve is between the Crystyl Ranch residential development in Concord and Lime Ridge Open Space in Walnut Creek. The area 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 there, 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 and into the open space along Galindo Creek and up the ridgeline, the sounds of cars and radios give way to bird songs and gentle breezes rustling through trees.

For more information or to make a reservation, visit savemountdiablo.org.