Mount Diablo receives $2.6 million for building new Education Center -

Upgraded Mitchell Canyon Visitor Center a community asset — *The Mount Diablo Interpretive Association envisions educational displays inside the Mitchell Canyon Education Center. (Photo Illustration)*

CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CA (August 29, 2024) — Mount Diablo Interpretive Association has announced that, on August 22, the California Wildlife Conservation Board (WCB) awarded a grant of $2.6 million to help build the Mitchell Canyon Education Center in Mount Diablo State Park.

“On behalf of MDIA, I want to express how thrilled we are. We are immensely grateful to the Wildlife Conservation Board (WCB) for this grant and to all the donors and community organizations who believed in the value of this project and generously provided the initial funding for it,” said Steve Smith, President of the Mount Diablo Interpretive Association (MDIA).

MDIA is an all-volunteer association and the official support organization for Mount Diablo State Park. The organization has worked closely with California State Parks and the staff at Mount Diablo to pursue funding for a new education and visitor center.

This grant provides critical funding. It helps move the project forward toward construction phases. The new facility will replace an aging trailer that is not ADA-compliant. The new facility will be fully accessible, able to accommodate school groups on the mountain. It will expand the natural and cultural history content, and enhance the visitor experience overall. Construction may begin as early as Fall 2025.

Community support

The project has attracted wide community support. California Assemblymember Rebecca Bauer-Kahan (District 16) secured a $1 million State allocation for the project. This came based in part on the new opportunity to serve all the school districts in Contra Costa. A wide variety of community leaders, foundations and organizations have also contributed to and endorsed the project.

WCB is a California State Board whose primary purpose is to approve funding for wildlife habitat protection, restoration and wildlife-oriented public access projects.

Established in 1974, the Mount Diablo Interpretive Association is a non-profit, all-volunteer organization. It assists the California Department of Parks and Recreation in maintaining and interpreting Mount Diablo State Park for its 700,000 visitors each year.

For more information contact: Steve Smith at president@mdia.org or Mike Brandy at brandymike@gmail.com