East Bay Regional Park District to Purchase 221-acre
Property in Antioch for Future Deer Valley Regional Preserve

At their December 1, 2009 meeting, the East Bay Regional Park District Board of Directors agreed to purchase 221 acres in Antioch known as Fox Ridge Manor. The property, which is just west of Deer Valley Road, is being acquired through a partnership with the East Contra Costa County Habitat Conservancy (Conservancy). This acquisition is the Park District’s third joint project with the Conservancy, which was created to identify, preserve and restore high priority land areas with significant habitat for protected species.

The Park District is acquiring the property from several joint owners who had intended to build five ranchettes on a level area and donate the hillside as open space. However, the owners encountered numerous challenges and, citing an interest in preserving the property’s natural resources, decided to sell the entire property as open space for a park. Appraised at $1.960 million the owners agreed to sell the property to the East Bay Regional Park District for a total of $1.760 million, making a $200,000 donation.

Although this property is not immediately adjacent to the Park District lands, it falls within the general alignment of the Park District Master Plan’s Black Diamond to Morgan Territory Regional Trail and the future Deer Valley Regional Preserve. The property is located about 2 ½ miles south of Black Diamond Mines Regional Preserve. The former Cowell Ranch, now owned by the State of California for a future park, just touches the southeast corner of the property and Roddy Ranch Conservation is a half mile to the northwest. An existing trail could serve as a connection through Cowell Ranch to the District’s Round Valley Regional Preserve.

The property includes rolling grasslands and oak covered hills, spectacular views, natural creek and wildlife habitat. The Conservancy designated the property as a high-priority habitat for a number of rare and endangered species including the California tiger salamander and Western burrowing owl. It is also believed to be within one of the primary wildlife corridors for the San Joaquin kit fox.

Purchase of this property has been anticipated for over a year. On January 13, 2009, the District and Conservancy provided the sellers with a $325,000 option payment. Primary funding for this acquisition is through the East Contra Costa County Conservancy for $1,435,000 and the remainder from the Park District’s Measure AA. Close of escrow is scheduled to occur before December 31, 2009. The Moore Foundation and Save Mt. Diablo have been active participants in this acquisition as well.

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