the intersection of North Broadway and Civic Drive). Political career In 1958, Nejedly was elected to the post of district attorney for Contra Costa County, his first elected office and a position he held for the next decade. In the late 1950s and early 1960s Nejedly helped lead attempts by the Contra Costa Park Council to create a park system in Contra Costa County. Ultimately he was a leader with local attorney Hulet Hornbeck in the successful 1964 campaign to expand the East Bay Regional Park District to include much of the County. In 1969, Nejedly was elected to the office of State Senator for California State Senate District 7, a seat that was made vacant by the passing of George Miller Jr. Serving Contra Costa County, he went on to hold this position for three consecutive terms, until his retirement in 1980. It was also during this time that Nejedly donated of wilderness land at Hawley Lake in the Sierra Nevadas for use as a summer camp by Boy Scouts of the Mt. Diablo Council and by the Contra Costa Youth Council, a new organization he created for disabled and disadvantaged children. In addition, he funded a scholarship to help minority adults. While in the State Senate, Nejedly gained a reputation as an environmentalist, and served as Chairman of the Senate Committee on Natural Resources and Wildlife. He took an active role in legislation related to water policy and environmental preservation, authoring or co-authoring environmental legislation that included the following: Solid Waste Management and Resource Recovery Act of 1972 (creating the Solid Waste Management Board, requiring statewide solid waste plans, and encouraging increased recycling). Forest Protection Act of 1973 (providing for forest resource management that "balances timber production with watershed protection, fisheries and wildlife, and recreational opportunities"). Suisun Marsh Preservation Act of 1974 (providing for preservation of the Suisun Marsh). Wilderness Act of 1974 (allowing the state legislature to designate state lands as wilderness areas and prohibit mining, logging, or road construction). Surface Mining and Reclamation Act of 1975 (requiring reclamation plans to minimize environmental impacts and to give "consideration to values relating to recreation, watershed, wildlife, range and forage, and aesthetic enjoyment"). Urban and Coastal Park Bond Act of 1976 ($280 million bond used to purchase park lands). Hazardous Substances Information and Training Act of 1980 (establishing an employee's "right to know" about chemical hazards in the workplace).