Di Rosa art center secures conservation easement for 162 acres, unlocking up to $1.85 million for programs

A major conservation deal announced on August 25 will lock up 162 acres of the di Rosa Center for Contemporary Art’s 217-acre estate in Napa’s Carneros region, preserving the land from future private development. The easement, held by the Land Trust of Napa County, will transfer the protected area to the Napa County Regional Park and Open Space District for public use, while the center retains roughly 53.5 acres for its galleries, lake, trails and sculpture meadow.

The agreement includes an initial $500,000 grant to the arts center, with an additional $1.35 million possible if Measure B passes in November, totaling up to $1.85 million. A proposed two-mile trail to the 732-foot Milliken Peak would create a new hiking destination and could feature additional large-scale sculptures from the collection. The protected land also serves as an ecological corridor, safeguarding wildlife habitat and watershed areas. The arrangement aims to blend conservation, public recreation, and the center’s artistic mission on the same property.