By Katy St. Clair | Bay City News
The John Muir Land Trust announced plans to acquire the Wagner Ranch Nature Area in Orinda in the hopes of turning it into a community spot and educational center, the trust said this week.
The 16-acre parcel is next to Wagner Ranch Elementary School, and the trust said the land could become an outdoor classroom for children.
The acquisition is not yet final, and a “due diligence period of several weeks comes next,” the trust said in a news release Tuesday. A full assessment of the property must first be undertaken.
The trust intends to foster a learning environment at the site similar to what they have done at the Pacheco Marsh in Martinez, where the community and students can enjoy learning about migrating birds, spawning fish and the salt marshes that blanket the Bay Delta. It includes trails and bridges as well as kayak tours by water.
At the Wagner Ranch property, the trust would raise funds — mostly through private donations, the trust said — to extensively restore and maintain the expanse with an eye to protecting the habitat-rich landscape.
According to the trust, the site has been closed to the public since 2023 due to vegetation debris and unstable trees, as well as structures that are safety hazards. Work will include removing the structures, building fences and paths, fire mitigation, and pruning.
On Monday, the Orinda Union School District board, which owns the property, approved transferring the title over to the John Muir Land Trust. State Assemblymember Rebecca Bauer-Kahan, D-Orinda, arranged a grant for the district of $1.5 million to cover the fair market value of the property as compensation, the JMLT said.
“Wagner Ranch Nature Area is a beloved natural area and everyone is excited by the future prospects,” said Linus Eukel, executive director of JMLT, in a statement released by the trust. “Parents are eager to see children once again making a deep connection with the natural world through hands-on activities and outdoor exploration.”