California Parklands Act of 1980 ($285 million bond used to purchase, rehabilitate, and develop park lands). Nejedly was also active in the area of criminal justice, and authored the Uniform Determinate Sentencing Act of 1976, which mandated fixed sentences for most crimes. In 1972, Nejedly authored Senate Bill 25, to authorize the design and construction of the new Antioch Bridge in Antioch, which replaced a vertical lift bridge that was constructed in 1926. After its completion, the new bridge was named the "Senator John A. Nejedly Bridge" in his honor. In 1979, nearby land was acquired for the Antioch/Oakley Regional Shoreline with the support of Nejedly, and it was Nejedly's suggestion that some of the old bridge's pillars be used for what is now a fishing pier. Post-retirement life After his retirement from the state senate in 1980, Nejedly was active in many community organizations related to the environment, water policy, criminal justice, healthcare, and children's welfare. Throughout the early 1980s, Nejedly fought to prevent the construction of the Peripheral Canal, a plan that would have diverted water from Sacramento River around the Sacramento River Delta and onwards to southern California. In 1988 Nejedly was co-chairman of the East Bay Regional Park District's successful campaign in favor of Measure AA, a $225 million bond which has resulted in over 30,000 acres (120 km²) being added to the District's land holdings, now totaling almost . In the mid-1980s, Nejedly was actively involved in supporting the construction of the Contra Costa Water District's Los Vaqueros Reservoir to provide a more reliable source of clean drinking water to portions of central and eastern Contra Costa County. The bond for this project was passed in 1988, and the dam was completed in 1994. In 2004 Nejedly was chairman of the campaign opposing CCWD's Measure N, an advisory measure asking voters for authorization of studies considering tearing down the recently completed Los Vaqueros dam and replacing it with a larger dam and reservoir. A month before his 92nd birthday in 2006, Nejedly died in Walnut Creek, a few days after suffering a massive stroke. Honors In 1978, the replacement Antioch Bridge was named the "Senator John A. Nejedly Bridge" in his honor. In 1983, he was awarded the John Muir Conservation Award by the John Muir Memorial Association, for his efforts in protecting Mount Diablo. In the early 1990s the East Bay Regional Park District