"Today is fantastic. It's been a long, long battle," said Santa Cruz County Supervisor Neal Coonerty to the San Jose Mercury News. "The north coast was under threat for a long time, and through the efforts of a lot of people, it is going to be preserved and protected for our children and grandchildren."

Yesterday, the paper reported on some big news for The Trust for Public Land—and for coastal California. On Monday, after years of negotiations, The Trust for Public Land donated to the public the Coast Dairies property—5,843-acres of rolling green meadows, redwood forests, and dramatic oceanside cliffs just north of Santa Cruz—"cementing protection for one of the largest privately owned pieces of land on California's 1,100-mile coastline."

When The Trust for Public Land worked with a group of generous donors to buy Coast Dairies & Land Company and protect the land in 1998, it was on the verge of being used for a 139-home subdivision. Instead, it is now one of the largest coastal properties in California to both receive permanent protection and provide public access.

The area is a beloved recreational and cultural resource for Santa Cruz County, giving locals and visitors a gorgeous place to get outdoors and enjoy nature. It also links a string of existing protected areas to add 13 miles to the California Coastal Trail. When complete, the trail will follow the coast from Oregon to Mexico for 1,300 miles.

To learn more, read the full story in the San Jose Mercury News.