History Danger Zone 1920 to 2025
The primary access to Mount Diablo State Park is Mount Diablo Scenic Boulevard, a small, narrow, old road that is deadly dangerous. Since 1931 California State Parks has had an easement over this private road so as to provide access for hundreds of thousands of park visitors. Along with this legal right comes the legal responsibility to maintain the road (Civil Code 845), which State Parks did until sometime in the late 1970’s. Then suddenly, after over 40 years of being a good neighbor, State Parks STOPPED maintaining the road and has never made any effort to do so since. For nearly 50 years, residents have repeatedly approached State Parks for action, only to receive no response and no action. There have been two fatalities on the upper portion of Scenic as a direct result of the failure to maintain the road. It’s not a question of if, but when there will be another fatality if State Parks fails to act. Their easement includes a half-mile narrow and twisting section of Scenic we call “The Danger Zone,” where a cyclist was killed in 2019, numerous bike vs vehicle collisions have occurred and multiple near-miss collisions occur on a daily basis.
California State Parks has no plan to address the safety of The Danger Zone for their visitors and, in fact, has been quietly obstructionist to all efforts to improve the situation. Don't take our word for it: Read the History
Then, please, send in any additional information, emails, documents, surveys, photos, videos, and suggestions. We look forward to hearing from you and to making The Danger Zone on Scenic safer for park visitors and all users of the road!
EASEMENT UPDATE: DEETTE SIPOS OWNER OF THE PROPERTY(EASEMENT): DEFENDANT IN LEGAL COMPLAINT AMENDED LEGAL COMPLAINT(Case No. C23-02578)
Deette Sipos, the owner of the property on which the Easement resides is NOW a Defendant in an Amended Legal Complaint (Case No. C23-02578) filed in Contra Costa County Superior Court (Judge Mockler) on September 3, 2024. “This case seeks to preserve the right of the public (including Plaintiffs) to use a longstanding expressly dedicated…
District Superintendent, Diablo Range District says “Placement of Iron Fence (blocking easement) is within State Parks 60 foot on Mt. Diablo Scenic Blvd”
EASEMENT ENCROACHMENT LETTER FROM STATE PARKS (PDF)
Public Access thru Diablo since 1916 for Visitors to Mount Diablo
A review of historical maps shows “Diablo streets in general have always had free public access since Diablo was created as a subdivision in 1916, and the public has always used Diablo roads to access South Gate entrance of Mount Diablo State Park.”
Dear Jerry Slavonia (DCSD Board Member): Request for Safety Striping on Upper Scenic
Their have been two fatalities on this section of Mt. Diablo Scenic Blvd. The Residents have written 9 letters and spoken in-person to the DCSD Board, requesting a Solid Double Yellow Line on this half-mile section of road with five Dangerous Blind Curves. Since 2012, the 25 residents on Upper Scenic have paid $91,996.68 to…
Letter to Armando Quintero, Director California State Parks from 25 Residents in the “Danger Zone.”
On February 17, 2023, California State Park legal department sent a letter to the owners on Mt. Diablo Scenic Blvd., the private road that serves as the primary access for hundreds of thousands of visitors to Mount Diablo State Park. It’s been one year and they have not heard a single word back from State…
Diablo Community Services District Meeting – Video of Public Comments (Nov 13, 2023)
Listen to 13 Diablo residents; “No Easement, Tyranny of the Minority, Private Property, Private Roads Subject to a Public Right of Way, Permission to Pass by Owners, Roads Maintained by Public Tax Dollars, Danger Zone – Two Fatalities, Group of Mean-Spirited People.” Residents and nonresidents are welcome to attend meetings and address the Diablo…
“With Few Exceptions, the Roads within the Proposed District are Private in Nature, but Subject to A Right of Way Reserved to the Public”
Almost All Roads in the Diablo Community Services District are “Private in Nature, but Subject a Right of Way Reserved to the Public.” In addition, the “Roads in Diablo are maintained by Public Tax Dollars.” Read the DCSD Formation Document below: DCSD Formation Doc
