News

Crown Beach Restoration Plan

mnolan — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 10:16:12 -0800

Contact name

Shelly Lewis

News

Crown Beach Restoration Plan

Contact: Diane Althoff dalthoff@ebparks.org

> Notice of Public Hearing (Acrobat PDF)

> Mitigated Negative Declaration (Acrobat PDF)

East Bay Regional Park District to Replenish Sand at Crown Beach

On November 24, 2009, the East Bay Regional Park District will release a plan for a major sand replenishment project at Robert W. Crown Memorial State Beach/Alameda Beach in the City of Alameda. If approved, the project is scheduled to begin in September 2010. The nearly 2-mile long, man-made beach has faced significant sand loss over the years as projected due to ordinary erosion and through damage from severe storm events. The Park District completed a major, multi-phased beach restoration project in1988, over twenty years ago. The proposed plan includes bringing in more than 82,000 cubic yards of sand in two phases and grading it to conform to the 1988 as-built beach footprint. The proposed project also includes the shoreward extension of the existing groin structure located near the foot of Park Street that separates the beach from the Elsie Roemer Bird Sanctuary. The groin would be extended approximately 100 ft. landward using concrete sheet pile construction (similar to the existing groin) or a rock rip-rap structure. The extension of the groin will help keep additional sand out of the bird sanctuary, which will benefit the wildlife habitat.

The Park District has begun the preliminary stages of the sand replenishment plan by preparing a proposed Negative Declaration of Environmental Significance (Mitigated Negative Declaration) to comply with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). The CEQA document concludes that with the implementation of avoidance and mitigation measures the project will not result in significant environmental impacts. The public can review this document and make comments during a 30-day public review period which concludes on Monday, December 28, 2009. A public hearing to consider adoption of the project is tentatively scheduled for the regular Board of Directors meeting on Tuesday, February 2, 2010.

The proposed plan includes bringing sand in by barge and then pumping it onto the beach in a mixture of sand and water via a pipeline. Sand will be dredged from a commercial mining operation in the San Francisco Bay. This method worked successfully during the beach restoration project in the 1980’s and resulted in minimal traffic impacts. Construction of this project would temporarily generate noise and affect air quality, public access to the beach, parking and traffic, but all potential impacts will be avoided or minimized. The Park District is also taking extra precautions to protect sensitive fish and wildlife and their nearby habitats by scheduling this project around nesting, breeding, spawning and migration seasons. The project will be constructed in two phases with the first phase planned to begin in fall 2010 and last up to six weeks. The second phase, which could take up to 10 weeks to complete, will either directly follow the first or will be postponed until September 2011, again depending on any anticipated effect to wildlife.

Alameda Beach was created in the 1950s when the marshes and mudflats of southern Alameda were filled in to create an area for residential and commercial buildings. An artificial beach was constructed and managed by the City of Alameda. Sand erosion was a serious issue from the start. The City of Alameda turned its management over to the Park District in 1967. At the same time, the Park District acquired the state-owned northern section that was renamed Robert W. Crown Memorial State Beach in 1974 after Assemblyman Robert Crown who campaigned to have the state acquire the area for a swimming beach. The Park District struggled for years to manage wind and wave erosion of the fine-grained sand beach. A 1981 Army Corps of Engineers study performed along Alameda beach suggested that an engineered beach system using the appropriate gradation of sand would be a cost effective way of providing both erosion protection and a recreational amenity. The Park District. in partnership with the City of Alameda and the State Department of Boating and Waterways, was successful in constructing this engineered beach and sand dune system in the 1980s using a heavier-grained sand from Bay Area mining operations. This man-made beach was built with the knowledge that it would require sand replenishment over time. Twenty years later, 82,600 cubic yards of sand is needed to restore Crown Beach to its original engineered configuration so as to continue to provide shoreline erosion control, renew the swim beach experience, and enhance protection to the bird sanctuary. Crown Beach is the largest and most heavily used swimming beach in the San Francisco Bay.

Phase 1 of the project, which involves placing up to 20,600 cubic yards of sand to replace sand lost during a major storm event in December 2005, is being funded by FEMA at a cost of $860,000. The California Department of Boating and Waterways will fund Phase 2 for $1.5 million, which involves placing an additional 62,000 cubic yards of sand on Crown Beach to complete the sand replenishment. If needed, additional funding for this phase is available through the Park District’s Measure WW bond, approved by the voters in November 2008. Funds for the groin extension project have not yet been identified.

In the 1980s, erosion was so severe, just reaching the waterfront was a challenge for visitors

An innovative solution included bringing sand in by barge and then pumping it onto the beach in a mixture of sand and water

Equipment helped level the sand back to the original beach design.

After the restoration, a beautiful public beach greats the public, circa 1980s.

Contact Email

slewis@ebparks.org

Park District to Re-Open Portion of Crown Beach in Alameda on November 14, 2009

mnolan — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 19:19:29 -0800

Contact name

Shelly Lewis

News

Park District to Re-Open Portion of Crown Beach in Alameda on November 14, 2009

Friday, November, 13, 8:30 pm

The East Bay Regional Park District will reopen a portion of Robert Crown Memorial State Beach in Alameda on Saturday, November 14. The entire one mile beach was closed on October 30 after an oil spill in the San Francisco Bay. The portion of beach that will reopen is the northern section from Crab Cove Visitor Center located on McKay Street to Boardsports Windsurf concession at Westline Drive. The southern portion of the beach (almost the entire Shoreline Drive area) from Westline to the Elsie Roemer Bird Sanctuary will remain closed for further observation and continued clean up.

Park staff assessed the area with a SCAT (Shoreline Cleanup Assessment Technique) team on Friday, November 13. Following the oil spill incident tar balls have been appearing daily on the beach, however, clean-up crews have been on site the entire time and clean-up is nearing completion. The team determined that the northern section of the beach could be open, however advise the public to visit with caution as tarballs may continue to appear for some months. Tar ball advisory signs will be posted adjacent to handwashing stations which will be placed at strategic access points to the reopened portion of the beach.

OEHHA, the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment, advises if you get oil or tar on your skin, wash it off with soap and water, and be certain to wash your hands before eating. If you get oil on your clothing, wash it in the usual way. There is no need to use harsh detergents, solvents or other chemicals to wash oil from skin or clothing.

Maintenance and monitoring crews will sweep this portion of the beach daily to clean any oil that may strand. A tentative meeting to reevaluate the closed portion of beach will occur on Wednesday, November 18 at 1:00 pm.

Oiled birds should be reported to the Oiled Wildlife Care Network at 877-823-6926.

Contact Email

slewis@ebparks.org

East Bay Regional Park District Lifts Restrictions at Two of Four Shoreline Areas. Crown Beach and Boat Ramps Remain Closed for

mnolan — Fri, 6 Nov 2009 16:48:15 -0800

Contact name

Shelly Lewis

News

East Bay Regional Park District Lifts Restrictions at Two of Four Shoreline Areas. Crown Beach and Boat Ramps Remain Closed for Further Observation

Oakland - On November 6, 2009, the East Bay Regional Park District opened two of four closed shoreline areas that were off limits due to the Dubai Star oil spill last week. Middle Harbor Shoreline Park in Oakland and Encinal Beach at Alameda Point in Alameda are now open. Crown Memorial State Beach in Alameda and the boat ramps at Martin Luther King Jr. Regional Shoreline Park in Oakland remain closed.

Middle Harbor and Encinal Beach were immediately closed following the spill as a precaution. However, consistently throughout the incident, little to no oil was observed at either location. The numbers of oiled or dead birds found at both locations was very low and very few have been seen. The Oiled Wildlife Care Network (OWCN) representatives at Incident Command were not recommending continued closure. Both areas are now open to the public. The California Department of Fish and Game continues to ban fishing from Alameda Point at the northwest end of Alameda Island to the southern point of Bay Farm Isle (Oakland Airport). All other areas are open to fishing.

Crown Memorial State Beach was also immediately closed following the spill. This is a popular public water recreation area. On October 31, 2009, one day after the oil spill, tarballs and oil sheen appeared on the southern portion of Crown Beach. Clean-up crews have been active but at a SCAT (Shoreline Cleanup Assessment Technique) team review this morning, tarballs continue to wash onto shore and have now been found further north along the beach. It is likely that the oil that had accumulated at the south end of the beach, near the Elsie Roemer Bird Sanctuary, has been remobilized by wind and high tide cycles that occurred yesterday. Since there is good evidence that these conditions will continue for the next several days, Park District staff will keep the beach closed until further notice. Alameda County Environmental Health concurred with this recommendation. The park, including picnic areas, paved trail and grassy lawn along with Crab Cove Visitor Center remain open, however, access to the beach and mudflats is prohibited.

Boat ramps at Martin Luther King Jr. Regional Shoreline park will also remain closed due to the boom that is currently in place. The park itself is open.

Oiled wildlife should be reported to 877-823-6926. The OWCN has several teams rescuing oiled birds and wildlife. No public or volunteer assistance is needed, and OWCN asks that the public refrain from entering the area as this activity severely stresses the wildlife.

Contact Email

slewis@ebparks.org

Chevron Donates Easement To Park District for Bay Trail

mnolan — Mon, 2 Nov 2009 15:54:00 -0800

Contact name

Shelly Lewis

News

Chevron Donates Easement To Park District for Bay Trail

Chevron is joining efforts with the East Bay Regional Park District (EBRPD) to expand public access to Richmond’s Point San Pablo Peninsula along the San Pablo Bay. Chevron agreed to donate an easement over a portion of its property to allow EBRPD to construct, operate and maintain a public multi-use recreational trail along the shoreline.

At its upcoming November 3 board meeting, the East Park District Board of Directors will formally accept a trail easement donation from Chevron located near its refinery operations in West Contra Costa County.

The proposed easement donation by Chevron consists of two segments: a southern segment beginning at the foot of the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge and running north to the former U.S. Naval Fuel Depot at Point Molate; and a northern segment, which runs north of the former depot past Point Orient to a point just south of Point San Pablo Yacht Club.

The Park District’s 1997 Master Plan identifies the San Pablo peninsula as a location for a regional park at Point Molate, and the San Francisco Bay Trail Plan shows a Bay Trail spur running along the shoreline of the San Pablo peninsula. “Chevron’s generous donation goes a long way to supporting the Park District’s interests in expanding the Bay Trail and providing more public access to the Richmond shoreline.” said Pat O’Brien, East Bay Regional Park District General Manager.

Chevron’s donation to the Park District includes a 20-foot wide easement over portions of Chevron’s refinery property. The easement follows the former Richmond Beltline Railroad/Castro Point Railway corridor, located generally along the San Pablo peninsula shoreline. Park District land acquisition staff and Chevron have been working together for several years to secure access to this important but previously unavailable parcel to extend the Bay Trail. “With Chevron’s help, the Richmond community will have more trail access and future open space parkland along the waterfront, which has long been a part of the Park District’s master plan,” said Bob Doyle, Assistant General Manager of Land Acquisition and Advanced Planning.

The 1988 Measure AA included funding for the acquisition of key parcels for a park and trail at this location. On November 6, 2007, the Board of Directors approved the Master Plan for the San Francisco Bay Trail, with a spur extending from the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge to Point San Pablo.

This segment of the San Francisco Bay Trail crosses various ownerships, including property owned by the City of Richmond and Chevron. The District and Chevron both recognize that some of the former railroad right-of-way may no longer be suitable for construction of the trail, with portions of the corridor having subsided over time. Chevron has agreed to cooperate with the District to develop a mutually acceptable realignment of the trail, as close to the original corridor alignment as physically possible, in order to provide safe use of the trail and to maximize the visual enjoyment for trail users.

“This contribution by Chevron brings us all one step closer to enjoying the recreational opportunities made possible by the Bay Trail,” said Mike Coyle, General Manager of Chevron’s Richmond Refinery. “We believe that working together with all key partners helps move the project toward completion.”

Added Coyle, “Chevron remains fully supportive of the Bay Trail, a valued Bay Area natural resource. We believe that there is reason for optimism for a timely completion of the spur trail along the beautiful waterfront from Point Richmond to Point San Pablo,” added Coyle.

“The District wishes to acknowledge Chevron’s cooperation and generosity in providing this trail easement at no cost to the public,” said General Manager O’Brien. Chevron’s donation will offer opportunities for public access to the scenic San Pablo Bay shoreline with unobstructed views of the San Pablo Bay, the Brothers Islands, Red Rock Island, the Sisters Islands and vistas of Marin County including the Tiburon peninsula, Mt. Tamalpais, China Camp State Park, Angel Island State Park and portions of the San Francisco Bay.

According to the terms of the planned agreement, the East Bay Regional Park District will be responsible for all costs associated with said recreational trail, including the cost to engineer the trail alignment, surveying and title costs, which are estimated to be $100,000.

Download > Board Materials for November 3, 2009 Meeting and Project Map (PDF)

Contact Email

slewis@ebparks.org

Point Pinole Regional Shoreline | Group Camp Dedication | Saturday, October 24, 2009 10AM

mnolan — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 15:10:42 -0700

Contact name

Shelly Lewis

News

Point Pinole Regional Shoreline
Group Camp Dedication
Saturday, October 24, 2009 10AM

Please join EBRPD Board Member Whitney Dotson and Regional Parks Foundation Board President Jim Potts to help celebrate the dedication of the Point Pinole Regional Shoreline Group Camp on Saturday, October 24 at 10 am.

Contact Email

slewis@ebparks.org

EBRPD Volunteer Medic Saves Life | October 10, 2009

mnolan — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 13:09:14 -0700

Contact name

Shelly Lewis

News

EBRPD Volunteer Medic Saves Life

EBRPD Volunteer Flight Medic, Jared Apperson

On Saturday, October 10, 2009, when a “man down” call came into the East Bay Regional Park District dispatch center, Officer Kevin Iacavoni, pilot of Eagle 7, one of two District helicopters, landed within 7 minutes. The location was Bort Meadow, a remote section of Anthony Chabot Regional Park in the Oakland Hills. On board, was Jared Apperson, a member of the Volunteer Flight Medic Program, managed by the Park District’s Public Safety Department.

Working as part of a team trained in Advanced Life Saving, Apperson assessed the situation. A well-known senior marathon runner had collapsed on one of the trails. He was in cardiac arrest. Brian Medley, an off duty San Ramon Valley Fire Department firefighter/paramedic, who was also running at the park, was performing CPR.

The situation was serious. At least twice, according to CPR test strips, the victim’s heart went from ventricular fibrillation (pulsing without pumping) to a tachycardia rhythm (too fast of a heart rhythm). Over the course of a 28 minute period off duty Firefighter Medley and Flight Medic Apperson provided CPR and at least two shocks from the Phillips Heartstart Defibrillator and restored the victim’s heartbeat. With their efforts, the victim’s life was saved from a fatal cardiac arrest. The patient was stabilized and transported to Eden Hospital for further life support treatment.

Fire Captain Andy Swartzell, who is also the EMS Coordinator with San Ramon Valley Fire District, reports that the patient is doing remarkably well, and the family said that he is now talking, joking and laughing, although he has some way to go to a full recovery. “We’re very proud of Firefighter Medley. It was a great example of teamwork and determination that made this resuscitation a successful one,” states Captain Swartzell. “On behalf of Brian and the SRVFD, please convey our thanks to Jared. He should be commended for this effort.”

East Bay Regional Park District Officer Doug Jackley, who is a pilot and the flight medic coordinator for the District, said “It is the availability of skilled volunteers and the dedication of people like Jared which more than justify the volunteer flight medic program’s very existence and supports an ongoing need to recruit and hire qualified individuals who are willing to give their time and skills for our Park community.”

Captain Paul Cutino, who manages the EMS program for the Park District, stated that having someone on scene quickly performing excellent CPR and that having a defibrillator on board the aircraft with a paramedic trained to use it were critical to saving this life. "We realize that this is the ultimate in life-saving equipment for cardiac arrest. Our goal is to place a defibrillator in every single public safety vehicle," says Cutino. "We've managed to train many park staff, but purchasing the equipment is very expensive. Our heartfelt thanks go out to the entire response from East Bay Regional District Park staff, American Medical Response (AMR), Alameda County Fire, Regional Parks’ Eagle 7 Helicopter, REACH Air Medical Services and especially to Brian Medley and Jared Apperson for their dedication and teamwork.”

More information: Volunteer Flight Medic Program.

Contact Email

slewis@ebparks.org

Simulated Hostage Exercise | October 24-26, 2009

mnolan — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 15:04:51 -0700

Contact name

Shelly Lewis

News

Simulated Hostage Exercise
At Lake Chabot/Anthony Chabot this weekend
October 24-26, 2009

Visitors to Lake Chabot and Anthony Chabot parks may encounter what looks like something out of a Hollywood thriller this weekend. Rest assured, it’s actually an elaborate training simulation through Urban Shield, www.urbanshield.org . Beginning 6am on Saturday, October 24 through 6am Monday, October 26, emergency response teams from as far away as Boston, MA, Israel, and France will take part in a regional training exercises. East Bay Regional Park District will be hosting one of these exercises near their public safety office at 17930 Lake Chabot Road in Castro Valley. Park visitors may also encounter some activity on regional park trails too during this event but at no time will trails or park access be closed.

Closures for the public: The only area closed to the public is the upper parking lot at 17930 Lake Chabot Road, where EBRPD Police and Fire Department is located – all trails leading to this area are still open. However, there will be no public parking up there over the weekend. Lake Chabot Road and the parking lot at Lake Chabot will remain open during regular hours, as will all other staging/parking areas and trails.

Monitors will be on site continuously to inform the public of the event and to prevent any park visitors from wandering too close to the exercise.

The Lake Chabot scenario will simulate a hostage rescue situation with a full-size bus and live fire (e.g. open flame), role players, professional makeup artists, medical teams, and approximately 25 of our Volunteer Safety Patrollers. The District's Mobile Incident Command vehicle will serve as the communications control center for the blue area command via satellite and radio communications to the Emergency Operations Center at the Office of Emergency Services in Dublin.

Urban Shield is a Bay Area emergency preparedness drill focusing on special response and high risk police teams (such as SWAT Teams) in dealing with a variety of tactical situations. This year's event includes 27 venues, and 27 teams from around the region.

>||<

Contact Email

slewis@ebparks.org

East Bay Regional Park District Reaches 100,000 Acres With Tyler Ranch Purchase

mnolan — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 12:37:33 -0700

Contact name

Shelly Lewis

News

East Bay Regional Park District Reaches 100,000 Acres With Tyler Ranch Purchase

Oakland, CA - While celebrating one milestone in its history, East Bay Regional Park District has just achieved another.

This year is the 75th anniversary of the park district’s establishment in 1934. And in action on Tuesday (Oct. 20), the park district board of directors authorized a land acquisition that will take the district over the 100,000-acre mark.

Board members agreed unanimously to purchase 1,156 acres of the Tyler Ranch, located adjacent to Pleasanton Ridge Regional Park near the town of Sunol.

The property extends for almost 3 ½ miles along Sunol Ridge, rising nearly 2,000 feet from Niles Canyon below. It consists of steep, heavily vegetated slopes, with open grasslands and rock outcrops on the ridge tops. The diversity of habitat makes for abundant wildlife, including raptors such as golden eagles, red-tailed hawks and prairie falcons. Views from the ridge tops are spectacular.

“Reaching the 100,000-acre milestone is especially appropriate on the park district’s 75th anniversary,” said park district general manager Pat O’Brien. “It carries forward the vision of the district’s founders, whose goal was to preserve as much as possible of the East Bay’s beautiful wildlands for future generations.”

The East Bay Regional Park District was established 75 years ago when on November 6, 1934, voters in nine Alameda County cities agreed to a nickel tax on every $100 worth of property. This was the first time in the nation’s history where a park district was established as a special district on a regional basis. In its 75 year history, the East Bay Regional Park District has grown to be the largest regional park district in the nation. It annexed most of Contra Costa County in 1964, and the remainder of that county in 1981, and now serves 2.1 million residents in Alameda and Contra Costa County.

“Tyler Ranch is a great addition to the district,” said park district board member, Ayn Wieskamp, whose ward includes Pleasanton and Sunol. “Like our original parks of Tilden, Sibley, and Redwood, it preserves critical wildlife habitat, retains the aesthetic quality of the region, and provides future recreational opportunities.”

The property had been owned since the 1940s by the Tyler family. In September of 1997, the Tyler family sold 1,156 acres of their ranch to the Priem Family Foundation for $5,197,500, and the remaining 320 acres to the park district for $1.44 million. The total sale price, $6,637,500, was well below the ranch’s appraised fair market value.
Purchase of the Tyler Ranch was made possible through generous support from the Priem Family Foundation, a private, tax-exempt organization created in part for the purpose of preserving open space in the greater East Bay.

The Priem Family Foundation agreed to hold its 1,156 acres for up to three years, in order to allow the park district time to obtain funds to complete the purchase. Now, the foundation will sell its 1,156 acres to the park district for $3,468,000, which constitutes a de facto donation to the park district of $1,729,500.

The park district has secured funding from several sources to complete the transaction, most notably a $1 million grant from the Alameda County Altamont Landfill Open Space Fund. In addition, the park district has received a $300,000 grant from the California Department of Parks and Recreation Habitat Conservation Fund. And a $10,000 grant from the Frederick E. and Anne R. Barstow Fund, conveyed through the East Bay Community Foundation, will help with the purchase. The balance of the funding will come from Measure WW, the open space bond issue approved by voters in 2008, and from interest accrued from Measure AA, the original open space bonds approved back in 1988.

With the acquisition of the Tyler Ranch property, the park district will comprise 65 public parklands totaling 100,331 throughout Alameda and Contra Costa Counties.

Tyler Ranch will be placed in land bank status pending cleanup, park planning, trail and signage work, and other measures to make it safe for opening to the public.

>||<

Contact Email

slewis@ebparks.org

East Bay Regional Park District Board Member Doug Siden Awarded Citation of Merit

mnolan — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 10:29:08 -0700

Contact name

Shelly Lewis

News

East Bay Regional Park District Board Member Doug Siden Awarded Citation of Merit

On October 16, 2009, the National Recreation and Park Association in partnership with the Pacific Southwest Regional Council honored Alameda resident and East Bay Regional Park District (EBRPD) Board Member Doug Siden with an Individual Citation of Merit award. Director Siden, was elected in1992 to serve on the EBRPD Board of Directors and has been re-elected four times. He is being honored for his valuable contributions to environmental education and recreational opportunities to his community. As an EBRPD board member, he represents Alameda, a portion of Oakland, San Leandro, and San Lorenzo. Parks in his ward include Crown Beach, Oyster Bay, Martin Luther King Jr., Regional Shoreline, and a small portion of Anthony Chabot.

The Individual Citation of Merit is a national honor and is awarded each year to one individual who has made an outstanding contribution to the park, recreation, and conservation movement. Director Siden was nominated by East Bay Regional Park District General Manager Pat O’Brien. O’Brien highlighted Director Siden’s involvement in his community, often with low-income youth.

“Doug Siden is so active in our community that many of us are left to wonder if there is actually more than one Doug, as if he has somehow cloned himself to be everywhere all the time,” says O’Brien. “He is one of those rare individuals who is able to, in the kindest of ways, get you to do and try things you never thought you would.”

O’Brien also nominated Director Siden based on his leadership as Chairman for the Measure WW Campaign, a $500 million bond extension to preserve thousands of acres of open space and expand regional parks and trails for residents of Alameda and Contra Cost counties. In November 2008, passing by over 72%, this historic bond measure extension is likely the largest local parks bond measure to be enacted in our country’s history.

“Doug would be the last to tell you about his accomplishments and the first to complement others. He never forgets to thank the volunteers and staff that make things possible on a day-to-day basis, but will never admit just how tirelessly he works to bring people together to achieve great things,” states O’Brien. “That is a true sign of leadership and why he earned this prestigious merit award.”

Prior to his retirement in 1999, Director Siden was Executive Director of a successful program to provide environmental education and recreational experiences to youth, children, families and adults for over 20 years.
Director Siden holds a Bachelor of Arts and a Masters Degree. He also received an honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from the American Baptist Seminary of the West for his leadership. His community service includes being president of the Alameda County Chapter of the California Special Districts Association, past chair of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Freedom Center in Oakland, vice chair of the Waterfront Action, and chair of the Alameda Rotary Club’s Community Grants Committee. Previously he served as advisory commissioner for the Golden Gate National Recreation Area and the Point Reyes National Seashore.

Director Siden was presented with the merit award on the final day of the NRPA 2009 Convention in Salt Lake City, Utah. Founded in 1965, NRPA is the leading advocacy organization dedicated to the advancement of public parks and recreation opportunities.

Official Press Release - From the National Recreation and Park Association in partnership with the Pacific Southwest Regional Council: (06/01/2009)

Contact Email

slewis@ebparks.org

Children’s Playground Dedication at Miller Knox | October 10, 2009

mnolan — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 20:28:01 -0700

Contact name

Shelly Lewis

News

Children’s Playground Dedication at Miller Knox | October 10, 2009

The East Bay Regional Park District in conjuntion with Regional Parks Foundation will celebrate and dedicate a new children’s playground at Miller/Knox Regional Shoreline Park on Saturday, October 10, 2009 at 2pm. Miller/Knox is located at 900 Dornan Drive in Richmond, California.

The Regional Parks Foundation, a private, non-profit corporation which raises funds to support the East Bay Regional Park District, is the recipient of a generous grant from the J.M. Long Foundation. The grant was used to develop and expand a children’s playground at the popular 307-acre Miller/Knox Regional Shoreline Park in Point Richmond.

The Regional Parks Foundation, which is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year, is the first non-profit established in the United States for the purpose of supporting a park agency. The J.M. Long Foundation’s partnership in this project is especially significant as 75 years ago, the young Joseph M. Long, then the Assistant City Manager of Berkeely, was involved in the citizens’ movement that led to the founding of the East Bay Regional Park District. The partnership project between the Regional Parks Foundation and the J.M. Long Foundation creates both a fitting and timely tribute to the East Bay Regional Park District as it celebrates the 75th anniversary of its establishment.

Whitney Dotson, East Bay Regional Park District Board Member, Jim Potts, Regional Parks Foundation Board President, and Nick Piediscalzi, J.M. Long Foundation Trustee will speak at the dedication ceremony.

The event is open to the public and neighbors are especially encouraged to attend. The new playground creates a safe and fun outdoor recreation and play space for children throughout Richmond and the East Bay. Please confirm attendance with Sue Rogers, 510-544-2008 or srogers@ebparks.org.

Download the event flyer > HERE

Contact Email

slewis@ebparks.org

Cowboy Culture Extravaganza | October 17, 2009

mnolan — Thu, 8 Oct 2009 14:40:09 -0700

Contact name

Isa Polt-Jones

News

Cowboy Culture Extravaganza | October 17, 2009 at Sunol Regional Wilderness

This year’s Cowboy Culture Extravaganza will be held Saturday, October 17 at the EBRPD’s Sunol Regional Wilderness. Planned as a one-day celebration of the heritage and culture of the American Cowboy, the festival will feature cowboy music and poetry amidst a beautiful outdoor setting. Come enjoy hayrides, pioneer crafts, food for sale, local history information, a program on cattle grazing in the park district and demonstrations with a Western theme. Come see pioneer cooking skills such as horehound candy making and Dutch-oven cooking, or try your hand at apple cider pressing and ice cream cranking. Arts and crafts will include fun history-based projects for the kids, such as stick-ponies, branding and old-fashioned whirligigs.

Sunol Regional Wilderness has a rich ranching heritage. Five local ranchers currently lease lands at Sunol Regional Wilderness, Ohlone Regional Wilderness and Mission Peak Regional Preserve. EBRPD tenants and staff will be on hand at the festival to provide information to the public on the practices of grazing, and its benefits under proper stewardship management within our public lands.

Entertainment:

Cowboy poets Lynn Owens, Wendy Brown-Barry, Madison Seamans, Dylan Marchetti will perform. Musical entertainment by Nick Isaak and the Country Classics Cowboy Band, Campbell Creek Gang (Fiddle).

Cowboy Culture Extravaganza
October 17, 2009 11 am to 5 pm
Sunol Regional Wilderness, 1895 Geary Road, Sunol
Free admission. Parking $5 . Dogs $2.
Telephone: (510) 544-3247

Contact Email

ipjones@ebparks.org

Anniversary Trail Party on the Carquinez Strait Loop

mnolan — Thu, 1 Oct 2009 16:11:29 -0700

Contact name

Shelly Lewis

News

Anniversary Trail Party on the Carquinez Strait Loop

Come out this Saturday, October 3, and explore little-known trails near the Carquinez Strait. Help celebrate milestone anniversaries with the Ridge Trail and Bay Trail (20 years) and East Bay Regional Park District (75 years).

Festivities begin at 10:00 AM at the Nejedly Staging Area, Carquinez Strait Regional Shoreline in Martinez, followed by fun walks and rides including:

Carquinez Strait Scenic Hike--Take a casual stroll along a closed roadway for blufftop views of the Strait. Learn about ongoing work to improve this area for bicyclists and pedestrians.
Birding Walk @ Martinez Regional Shoreline--Explore the edge of the Carquinez Strait on a naturalist-led excursion of Martinez Regional Shoreline. This short walk will follow the trails along Alhambra Creek and marshes for shorebird and waterfowl viewing.
Mountain Bike Moderate Trail Ride--distance and route details dependant on group interest.
Equestrian Ride--ride options to be announced.

Speakers include: Ted Radke, East Bay Regional Park District, Board of Directors (Welcome); Rob Schroder, Mayor, City of Martinez; Mary Piepho, Supervisor, Contra Costa County; Federal Glover, Supervisor, Contra Costa County and Metropolitan Transportation Commission Commissioner; Janet McBride, Executive Director, Bay Area Ridge Trail; Laura Thompson, Manager, San Francisco Bay Trail Project and Hulet Hornbeck, former Chief of Land Acquisition, East Bay Regional Park District.

The event is free. Anniversary cake and lunch will be served.

Getting to the Anniversary Trail Party

The City of Martinez is hosting a 5k fun run/walk starting at 8 AM on Saturday, Oct. 3. Portions of downtown streets including Marina Vista, Alhambra and Berrellessa will be closed to traffic until approximately 9:45 AM.

The recommended route from ALL directions is to take Highway 4 and exit at Alhambra Ave. Alhambra may be open to traffic by the time you are arriving, but IF NOT - detour signs will direct you as described below.

Directions:
Take Highway 4; exit at Alhambra Avenue and head north.
During the race - traffic will be diverted as follows:
Turn right (off of Alhambra) at Soto Street and make an immediate left on Castro Street.
Proceed north on Castro to Green Street, turn left.
Traffic will be allowed to cross Alhambra intermittently (may be some delay).
Turn right on Talbart Street and proceed north.
Turn left on Carquinez Scenic Drive and look for the entrance to the EBRPD Nejedly staging area.

See the directions in Google Maps

Contact Email

slewis@ebparks.org

Gathering of the Ohlone Peoples | Sunday, October 4, 2009

mnolan — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 10:15:44 -0700

Contact name

Isa Polt-Jones

News

Gathering of the Ohlone Peoples
Sunday, October 4, 2009, Fremont

The East Bay Regional Park District invites the public to the Gathering of Ohlone Peoples, Sunday, October 4, 2009, from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at Coyote Hills Regional Park.

The area encompassed by the East Bay Regional Park District – Alameda and Contra Costa Counties – falls within the homelands of about 25 tribes of Native peoples, who spoke variants of the Bay Miwok, Ohlone, and Northern Valley Yokuts languages. Over 2,000 years ago, the Ohlone and their ancestors established several villages in the area that is now Coyote Hills Regional Park. European settlement brought severe disruption to the Tuibun tribe (located in today’s Fremont Plain) and to other Ohlone peoples. Despite their tragic history, many Ohlone continue to keep their history and elements of their traditional cultures alive.

At the Gathering of Ohlone Peoples, Ohlone descendants of varied tribal backgrounds will share family and tribal history, music, song, dance, and stories. They’ll discuss contemporary cultural involvements, and demonstrate basket, jewelry, soaproot brush, and dogbane string making. Visitors may walk to a more than 2,000-year-old village site, play an Ohlone game, try making fire without matches, or make a miniature tule boat. Activities include tasting native plant teas, manzanita cider, and, in the afternoon, acorn soup cooked with heated stones in a basket.

Coyote Hills Regional Park is comprised of nearly 978 acres of marshland and rolling grassland-covered hills, along the eastern shore of San Francisco Bay, northwest of the cities of Fremont and Newark. Popular visitor activities are bicycling, walking, bird watching, jogging, nature exploration, and picnicking. Coyote Hills Regional Park also features a Visitor Center, with exhibits on Ohloneand other California Indian ways of life, as well as exhibits on natural history and wildlife.

Admission is free, parking is $5. Coyote Hills Regional Park is located at 8000 Patterson Ranch Road (Paseo Padre exit off Highway 84), Fremont, CA 94555. Information: 1-888-EBPARKS (1-888-327-2757).

Please note that photography at this event is by permission only.

Contact Email

ipjones@ebparks.org

Bridge dedication marks closure of gap in hiking, riding trail

mnolan — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 16:52:16 -0700

Contact name

Shelly Lewis

News

Bridge dedication marks closure of gap in hiking, riding trail

CONCORD, CA (Sept. 14, 2009) – The City of Concord and the East Bay Regional Park District will celebrate the dedication of the Galindo Creek Bridge with a public ribbon cutting on Saturday, Sept. 26 at 10 a.m.

The 74-foot pedestrian bridge across Galindo Creek, near Ygnacio Valley Road at Alberta Way, closes one of the last gaps in the California State Riding and Hiking Trail between the Carquinez Strait shoreline and Mount Diablo State Park. The new trail will greatly improve public safety for trail users by rerouting trail access off of busy Ygnacio Valley Road and on to the new bridge portion just below the busy roadway.

A unique feature of the project was the “recycling” of an existing steel bridge that was moved from Antioch, where it was no longer needed by the Park District, to the new location in Concord. The project also included significant improvements to stabilize Ygnacio Valley Road along the adjacent trail. The new trail segment will be managed by East Bay Regional Park District.

“We are very happy to see this improvement completed,” said Concord Mayor Laura Hoffmeister. “Walkers, runners and riders who use the trail now have a much safer route, and this gap closure will result in more users discovering our section of the wonderful California State Riding and Hiking Trail.”

The project was funded by the City of Concord, the Coastal Conservancy, East Bay Regional Park District and the Land and Water Conservation Fund.

The California State Riding and Hiking Trail was envisioned in the 1940s as a 3,000-mile network extending from Mexico to Oregon. EBRPD currently manages over 20 miles of the trail in Contra Costa County.

Parking for the event will be available at the Holy Cross Lutheran Church, 1092 Alberta Way (at Ygnacio Valley Road), Concord. Signage will direct attendees to the dedication site.

For more information, contact Shelly Lewis, Public Information Supervisor, East Bay Regional Park District, (510) 544-2208.

Contact Email

slewis@ebparks.org

Little Farm Fair | Sunday, September 20, 2009

mnolan — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 14:37:53 -0700

Contact name

Ilana Peterson

News

Little Farm Fair | Sunday, September 20, 2009

Celebrate the Little Farm, Tilden Nature Area and the East Bay Regional Park District's 75th anniversary at this fantastically fun, down-home special event. Bring your family and enjoy live music, entertainment, crafts, and old fashioned games, including pie-eating contests, sack-races and more!

The Little Farm is part of the 740-acre preserve at the north end of Tilden Regional Park, next to Tilden's renowned Environmental Education Center (EEC), headquarters for Tilden Nature Area interpretive programs. Thousands of urban children have learned their first ecology lessons at the EEC, or met their first farm animal at the Little Farm.

Admission and parking are free. Dogs are not permitted at the Nature Center or Little Farm. The Little Farm is located at the north end of Central Park Drive. AC Transit bus #67 serves the event from downtown Berkeley BART.
Please carpool as parking is limited. Information: 1-888-EBPARKS or www.ebparks.org .

Download > Official Event Flyer

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Contact Email

IPeterson@ebparks.org

Volunteers Needed for Coastal Cleanup Day | September 19, 2009

mnolan — Wed, 9 Sep 2009 14:10:22 -0700

Contact name

Anne Kassebaum

News

Volunteers Needed For Coastal Cleanup Day September 19, 2009

Volunteers are needed to join in East Bay Regional Park District's share of the 25th Annual California Coastal Cleanup Day, scheduled for Saturday, September 19.

Participants will help to rid the shoreline of trash and debris, as well as recyclables. Of particular concern is the plastic refuse that collects along the shore because of its detrimental effect on the wildlife.

Major sponsors of the event include Contra Costa County Public Works Departments, Allied Waste Services, Richmond Sanitary, and Waste Management Inc.

Contributors include BIOTA Corporation, Martinez Refining Co., Peet’s Coffee, Starbucks and the cities of Hayward, Martinez, Oakland, Pinole, Pittsburg, Rodeo and San Leandro.

The work day will last from 8:30 a.m. to 12:00 noon. Volunteers should wear work clothes, gloves, and sturdy shoes and should bring snacks. Beverages will be provided.

Volunteers may choose among fourteen staging areas in the two counties where cleanup crews may assemble. Pre-registration is required. To register contact Anne Kassebaum at the Park District except where noted.

Alameda County
• Robert Crown Memorial State Beach, Alameda. Meet on the beach side of the Intersection of Park Street and Shoreline Drive in Alameda. Reservations required: call (510) 747-7529 (Alameda Parks and Recreation).
• Middle Harbor Shoreline Park, off intersection of Middle Harbor Road and 7th Street in Oakland.
• Martin Luther King, Jr., Regional Shoreline, off Oakport St. between 66th and Lesser St. in Oakland. Meet at the Oakport Soccer Field about 1/4 mile north of 66th St. on Oakport.
• San Leandro Marina, end of Lewelling Blvd. in San Leandro.
• Shoreline Interpretive Center, Hayward Area Recreation and Park District, west end of Breakwater Dr. in Hayward.
• Hayward Regional Shoreline, end of W. Winton Ave. in Hayward.
• Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge. Reservations required: call (510) 792-0222, ext. 43 (Don Edwards S.F. B.N.W.R).
• Del Valle Regional Park, end of Del Valle Road, Livermore.

Contra Costa County
• Bay Point Regional Shoreline, Port Chicago Highway exit off Hwy. 4 in Bay Point, go north to McAvoy Harbor.
• Martinez Regional Shoreline, north end of Ferry St. in Martinez.
• Eckley Pier, Bull Valley Staging Area, Carquinez Regional Shoreline on Carquinez Scenic Drive between Port Costa and Crockett.
• Lone Tree Point, end of Pacific Ave. in Rodeo.
• Point Pinole Regional Shoreline, Giant Highway in Richmond.
• Bayfront Park, west end of Tennent Ave. in Pinole.
• Point Isabel Regional Shoreline, end of Isabel St. in Richmond.

Organizations working with the Park District to stage the event include the California Department of Fish and Game, Civicorps, Friends of the Franklin Hills, Friends of Alhambra Creek, Friends of Marsh Creek Watershed, Hayward Area Recreation District, Save the Bay and Senator Torlakson’s office.

To volunteer for the shoreline and creeks cleanup or to obtain more information, call Anne Kassebaum, Recreation Services Manager, at (510) 544-2552 or e-mail her at akassebaum@ebparks.org

Contact Email

akassebaum@ebparks.org

Beach Club Café - Now Open - Lake Anza

mnolan — Wed, 9 Sep 2009 10:10:58 -0700

Contact name

Shelly Lewis

News

Beach Club Café - Now Open - Lake Anza

Adding to the Summer fun of Lake Anza in Tilden Park is the new Lake Anza Beach Club café. The café offers a wide variety of high-quality, fresh foods and beverages for perfect picnics on the lake.

For generations, Lake Anza has been a popular destination during the Bay Area Summers. As the days grow long and warm, residents, day-trip groups and tourists flock to the lake and beach for sunning, swimming and picnicking.

Now, concessionaires Daniel Bergerac and Eddie Lundeen are adding to the fun with the Lake Anza Beach Club café. “The lake has always been the perfect Summer picnic place, so we felt that offering quality food at family-friendly prices would make a great addition to the park.”

The classic lake atmosphere is where the charm lies, as Mr. Bergerac adds, "I’ve enjoyed this lake for more years than I can remember. There’s a certain sort of ‘old-fashioned fun’ feel to it, so you see a lot of families enjoying some real, quality-time together, outside of the fast-moving, digital lifes we live from day-to-day.”

The Beach Club café menu includes the Summer classics such as soft-serve ice cream, hot dogs, nachos and icees, as well as health-conscious items such as fresh sandwiches and natural treats. In addition, the café boasts a full espresso bar featuring superior-quality, locally roasted Catahoula Coffee. “Life’s too short for a bad latte!” quips Lundeen.

The café is open daily from 11AM to 6PM.

About the Lake Anza Beach Club café: The café is operated by concessionaires Daniel Bergerac and Eddie Lundeen. The gentlemen also operate Mudpuppys Tub and Scrub dog wash, and the Sit and Stay Café, both located at Point Isabel Regional Shoreline Park in Richmond.

About Lake Anza: The lake is located in Tilden Regional Park. Tilden is considered the jewel of the park system, and its recreational activities have become a happy tradition for generations of East Bay youngsters. The lake’s facilities include locker rooms, showers and parking, and the park provides lifeguards on duty during operating hours.

Download flyer... HERE

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Contact Email

slewis@ebparks.org

Berkeley Meadow Restoration - Phase III

mnolan — Wed, 9 Sep 2009 10:04:00 -0700

Contact name

Shelly Lewis

News

Berkeley Meadow Restoration - Phase III

On June 17, 2009, the East Bay Regional Park District Board of Directors approved construction of the third and final phase of the Berkeley Meadow Restoration Project at Eastshore Park in Berkeley. This $2,000,000 project will begin construction in early July. The project will create seasonal wetlands, coastal prairie and coastal scrub atop an old landfill. The 72-acre Meadow is being restored in three phases over five years in order to minimize impacts to wildlife and to create a diverse and thriving habitat for plants and animals in this urban area. More details....

Contact Email

slewis@ebparks.org

Tentative Arrangement Reached for Wetland Restoration at Breuner Marsh

mnolan — Wed, 9 Sep 2009 10:00:32 -0700

Contact name

Shelly Lewis

News

Tentative Arrangement Reached for Wetland Restoration at Breuner Marsh

On April 20, 2009, the East Bay Regional Park District in cooperation with federal, state and local agencies reached a tentative arrangement that would provide $3,000,000 for tidal wetland restoration on the 218-acre Breuner Property in North Richmond. This figure consists of three separate sources of funds: restoration funds from a tentative settlement of Castro Cove natural resource damage assessments, state and federal grant programs, and Measure WW bond funding that was approved by voters in November of 2008.

The Park District acquired the Breuner property in 2008 and is developing a feasibility study for a restoration and public access project. The $3,000,000 would fund planning and construction of the first phase of the project, which includes restoration of up to 45 acres of tidal wetlands.

The total project will restore about 100 acres of wetland and grassland habitat for a number of plants and animals, including the endangered California clapper rail. The project would also enhance Rheem Creek, and potentially restore it to its historic alignment. Public access improvements could include a new staging area near Goodrick Avenue, trail access to the San Francisco Bay, and closure of a key gap in the San Francisco Bay Trail connecting North Richmond with Point Pinole Regional Shoreline.

The Richmond community has been very supportive of the Park District’s acquisition and restoration of the Breuner Property. In particular, the Parchester Village Association has advocated strongly for the property. Park District Director Whitney Dotson, who lives in Parchester Village, notes that he is very excited about this funding opportunity and the benefit to the nearby marsh, creek, and Richmond community. “I’d like to see the remaining non-developed portions of the North Richmond shoreline eventually protected and restored too. This success at Breuner Marsh is an important first step in achieving that goal,” states Dotson.

Once the Park District receives funding, it will begin the planning process with possible construction of a first phase in 2012 or 2013.

Contact Email

slewis@ebparks.org

Groundbreaking of the Tidewater Aquatic Center

mnolan — Wed, 9 Sep 2009 09:54:37 -0700

Contact name

Shelly Lewis

News

Groundbreaking of the Tidewater Aquatic Center

Please join the East Bay Regional Park District
in celebrating the groundbreaking of the
Tidewater Aquatic Center
Friday, August 28, 2009
10 am
4855 Tidewater Avenue
along the eastern side of the estuary at Martin Luther King Jr. Regional Shoreline

Master of Ceremonies:
East Bay Regional Park District Board Members Doug Siden and John Sutter
Light refreshments follow the groundbreaking.
Please RSVP by August 25 to Brenda Montano
at bmontano@ebparks.org or by phoning 510-544-2200.

About the Tidewater Project:

The Tidewater area of Martin Luther King Jr. Regional Shoreline is the location of the latest East Bay Regional Park
District project to increase opportunities for public access to the Bay shoreline and water-related activities.

Funded through a grant from State Parks Proposition 40 in combination with funds from the Park District’s Measure CC the groundbreaking for over $4,000,000 in improvements to this shoreline site is a cause for celebration. The Tidewater Aquatic Center project will construct a 12,300-square-foot boathouse complex, which includes a meeting room, training area, security residence, dock, and storage for various types of boats.

The new center will compliment the already existing amenities at the site, which include access and connection for hiking and cycling along the Bay Trail, turf sites for picnicking, shoreline access for fishing, protection of native plants and wildlife found along the shoreline, a new entry road, parking area, and restroom. Once the center is completed, the Park District will begin a partnership with Oakland Strokes, an Oakland-based nonprofit junior rowing organization founded in 1973 and affiliated with the U.S. Rowing Association.

Under a multi-year lease agreement, the Strokes will operate the boathouse facility and provide a comprehensive outreach effort to connect with and mentor youngsters from the neighborhoods near Tidewater in the sport of competitive rowing. In addition, other organizations will be leased space to provide on-the-water experiences with boating and water safety, sea kayaking, canoeing, and other waterrelated recreational programs for the youth of the area and the general public. Martin Luther King Jr. Regional Shoreline is a popular destination for birdwatchers, picnickers, Bay Trail hikers, bikers, and anglers.

It also is home to thousands of migrating birds that annually use the 50-acre Arrowhead Marsh on the Pacific Flyway, which is part of the Western Hemisphere Shorebird Reserve Network. The Martin Luther King Jr. Regional Shoreline Tidewater Aquatic Center and surrounding amenities are located on the waterfront side of Tidewater Avenue off High Street in East Oakland.

Driving Directions:

4855 Tidewater Avenue

From Oakland South on I-HWY 880:
Take I-880 south toward Alameda. Take Exit 38/High Street and merge onto Oakport Street. Turn right at Lesser Street. At Tidewater Avenue follow event parking directions.

From San Leandro North on I-HWY 880:
Take I-880 north. Take Exit 38 toward Alameda/High Street. Follow Coliseum Way to the intersection at High Street. Turn left onto High Street. Turn left at Tidewater Avenue and follow event parking directions.

Contact Email

slewis@ebparks.org