CONCORD -- Arthur Bonwell didn't think Mount Diablo was getting the attention it deserved.
In 1971, Bonwell decided to speak out for the East Bay's tallest peak and helped form Save Mount Diablo.
What started out as an effort to draw attention to the 4,000-foot peak and preserve the then 6,788-acre Mount Diablo State Park, evolved in to a movement that has helped save 110,000 acres as open space and more than 40 parks in the East Bay.
Arthur was known by many as one who saw the bigger picture. He was an avid cyclist who picked up the love of the outdoors on long bicycle rides as a kid in Dana, Indiana. Those same long bike rides in the East Bay helped Bonwell envision a swath of open space with Mount Diablo as the focal piece.
"He was a person who very early on saw Mount Diablo bigger than just a state park," said Robert Doyle, general manager for East Bay Regional Parks and a founding board member of Save Mount Diablo. "He saw all the foothills around as part of the mountain physically, and he didn't care who had them, he wanted them protected."
Mary Bowerman and Bonwell formed Saved Mount Diablo in an effort to get Sacramento lawmakers to pay attention to the landmark that was being threatened by rapid development in Contra Costa and Alameda counties. Their work helped the group grow from an all-volunteer staff to one with 12 paid workers.
In 1971, Bonwell decided to speak out for the East Bay's tallest peak and helped form Save Mount Diablo.
What started out as an effort to draw attention to the 4,000-foot peak and preserve the then 6,788-acre Mount Diablo State Park, evolved in to a movement that has helped save 110,000 acres as open space and more than 40 parks in the East Bay.
Arthur was known by many as one who saw the bigger picture. He was an avid cyclist who picked up the love of the outdoors on long bicycle rides as a kid in Dana, Indiana. Those same long bike rides in the East Bay helped Bonwell envision a swath of open space with Mount Diablo as the focal piece.
"He was a person who very early on saw Mount Diablo bigger than just a state park," said Robert Doyle, general manager for East Bay Regional Parks and a founding board member of Save Mount Diablo. "He saw all the foothills around as part of the mountain physically, and he didn't care who had them, he wanted them protected."
Mary Bowerman and Bonwell formed Saved Mount Diablo in an effort to get Sacramento lawmakers to pay attention to the landmark that was being threatened by rapid development in Contra Costa and Alameda counties. Their work helped the group grow from an all-volunteer staff to one with 12 paid workers.
CONCORD -- Arthur Bonwell didn't think Mount Diablo was getting the attention it deserved.
In 1971, Bonwell decided to speak out for the East Bay's tallest peak and helped form Save Mount Diablo.
What started out as an effort to draw attention to the 4,000-foot peak and preserve the then 6,788-acre Mount Diablo State Park, evolved in to a movement that has helped save 110,000 acres as open space and more than 40 parks in the East Bay.
Arthur was known by many as one who saw the bigger picture. He was an avid cyclist who picked up the love of the outdoors on long bicycle rides as a kid in Dana, Indiana. Those same long bike rides in the East Bay helped Bonwell envision a swath of open space with Mount Diablo as the focal piece.
"He was a person who very early on saw Mount Diablo bigger than just a state park," said Robert Doyle, general manager for East Bay Regional Parks and a founding board member of Save Mount Diablo. "He saw all the foothills around as part of the mountain physically, and he didn't care who had them, he wanted them protected."
Mary Bowerman and Bonwell formed Saved Mount Diablo in an effort to get Sacramento lawmakers to pay attention to the landmark that was being threatened by rapid development in Contra Costa and Alameda counties. Their work helped the group grow from an all-volunteer staff to one with 12 paid workers.
In 1971, Bonwell decided to speak out for the East Bay's tallest peak and helped form Save Mount Diablo.
What started out as an effort to draw attention to the 4,000-foot peak and preserve the then 6,788-acre Mount Diablo State Park, evolved in to a movement that has helped save 110,000 acres as open space and more than 40 parks in the East Bay.
Arthur was known by many as one who saw the bigger picture. He was an avid cyclist who picked up the love of the outdoors on long bicycle rides as a kid in Dana, Indiana. Those same long bike rides in the East Bay helped Bonwell envision a swath of open space with Mount Diablo as the focal piece.
"He was a person who very early on saw Mount Diablo bigger than just a state park," said Robert Doyle, general manager for East Bay Regional Parks and a founding board member of Save Mount Diablo. "He saw all the foothills around as part of the mountain physically, and he didn't care who had them, he wanted them protected."
Mary Bowerman and Bonwell formed Saved Mount Diablo in an effort to get Sacramento lawmakers to pay attention to the landmark that was being threatened by rapid development in Contra Costa and Alameda counties. Their work helped the group grow from an all-volunteer staff to one with 12 paid workers.
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