At their July 20, 2010 meeting, the East Bay Regional Park District Board of Directors agreed to purchase 460 acres located at 8040 Black Diamond Way between the cities of Pittsburg and Clayton. The property will be an addition to Black Diamond Mines Regional Preserve and is located along the existing Black Diamond Trail, providing access to the western portion of that park. The property is being acquired through a partnership with the East Contra Costa County Habitat Conservancy (Conservancy). This acquisition is the Park District’s seventh joint project with the Conservancy, which was created to identify, preserve and restore high priority land areas with significant habitat for protected species.

The subject property is located west of the former Chopra property, historically known as Irish Canyon, which was recently acquired by Save Mt. Diablo. Irish Canyon was named for early settlers in the 1800s who raised food crops and sold them to miners at the nearby coal mines. Irish Creek runs through the newly acquired property.

The Park District is acquiring the property from the Eastern Development Corporation/Poon Association for a total of $2,763,840 using a combination of 55% Measure WW funds, and 45% from the Conservancy. Measure WW was a $500 million bond measure passed by voters in 2008.

The property offers opportunities for public access, as well as protecting an additional 460 acres of land adjacent to Black Diamond Mines Regional Preserve. “This is a very nice purchase for us, particularly for future recreational opportunities,” states Board Member Beverly Lane “Once open to the public, it will offer an excellent connection to the Black Diamond Trail and also to city-owned Clayton Open Space.”

At Park District staff recommendation, the property will be placed in land bank status until a Land Use Plan for the new properties being acquired in partnership with the Conservancy can be completed.