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4,000 Acre Ranch Becomes California Park BRENTWOOD, California, December 5, 2002 (ENS) - A 4,000 acre ranch in booming Contra Costa County has become California's newest state park. With funding from a half dozen public agencies, the Trust for Public Land (TPL) spent $13 million to buy the property from the S.H. Cowell Foundation and transferred it to the California Department of Parks and Recreation. The Cowell Ranch's rolling, oak studded hills in the shadow of Mount Diablo will offer open space and recreation in one of the state's fastest growing regions. The ranch had been earmarked for urban development, until local politicians, including state Assemblymember Joe Canciamilla and state Senator Tom Torlakson began an effort to raise public support for preserving the ranch. Through the efforts of Canciamilla and Torkalson, voters agreed to relocate the urban limit line to exclude almost all of Cowell Ranch.
The Cowell Foundation withdrew its development plans and TPL optioned the property in 2000. Working on a two year deadline, TPL was able to secure financial commitments from the California Coastal Conservancy, Caltrans, the Department of Parks and Recreation, the Wildlife Conservation Board, and the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation. "This is terrific news for the people of Contra Costa County and all of California," said Torlakson, a Democrat. "This acquisition and park plan required a strong community effort and cooperation among elected officials, government agencies and private groups. A new park, anchored by the new historic John Marsh Home, can provide recreational, historic and cultural opportunities." The ranch's hills, wetlands, streams and vernal pools are home to many threatened and endangered species, including red-legged frogs, fairy shrimp, tiger salamanders and San Joaquin kit fox. The protection of the ranch helps to create a wildlife corridor that would encompass about 81,000 acres from the Los Vaqueros Reservoir Watershed, extending west through Morgan Territory and Mt. Diablo State Park to Walnut Creeks Shell Ridge. "This is a natural legacy of rolling, grassy hills with majestic oaks and seasonal streams that we can pass on to future generations," said Mary Nichols, California's secretary for resources. The Cowell Ranch was part of the initial bequest to the S.H. Cowell Foundation from the Cowell family, and was one of the foundation's few remaining real estate holdings. Disposing of the property, which was providing no other income to the foundation, increases the foundation's liquid assets which will make it easier for the group to make grants throughout northern California for youth, families, affordable housing and public education. "We are delighted to see the Cowell Ranch protected and remain a vital part of the California's natural heritage," said Mary Metz, president of the S.H. Cowell Foundation. "The ranch was the destination of the earliest pioneers and was the homestead of John Marsh, a powerful force in California's most dynamic period of history," she said. "Marsh's spectacular stone house still stands and when restored will be a centerpiece of the new state park." Copyright Environment News Service (ENS) 2002. All rights reserved. |
Cowell Ranch (Photo courtesy 