Coyote Hills Regional Park Expansion Moving Forward

April 6, 2018

306 Acres Set to Be Added for Wildlife Protection, Public Access

Fremont, CA – On Feb. 20, 2018, the East Bay Regional Park District Board of Directors approved a conceptual site plan for expansion of Coyote Hills Regional Park, including habitat restoration, urban agriculture, and public access improvements, such as relocating the park entrance closer to Paseo Padre Parkway to develop a more prominent entry point to the park. Approval of the conceptual plan allows the land use planning process to move forward into the environmental review stage. Coyote Hills Regional Park is currently 1,266 acres, including the 306 acres currently being planned for expansion.

In 2014 the Park District received a donation of 296 acres (Patterson Ranch) bordering the eastern boundary of Coyote Hills Regional Park, expanding the park eastward to Paseo Padre Parkway. In September 2016, the Park District purchased an additional, contiguous 10-acre property to the north of the Patterson Ranch Parcel.

“The Coyote Hills park expansion will not only increase the size of park, but also bring additional opportunities for interpretive educational programs and habitat restoration,” said Park District Director Ayn Wieskamp. “The new area will provide unique opportunities for public enjoyment and education.”

The Coyote Hills Regional Park and the Coyote Hills Visitor Center provide valuable interpretation and educational services to the community, including educational displays and exhibits covering the park's natural history and wildlife, as well as the park’s unique Native American history.

“The newly acquired properties present opportunities to significantly improve public access, enhance interpretive programs, and restore wildlife habitat,” said EBRPD General Manager Robert E. Doyle. “The expansion will effectively increase the size of Coyote Hills Regional Park by one-third.”

Development of the Board-approved conceptual plan included robust community engagement and outreach, including social media and public meetings providing a clear vision for enhancing public access, urban agricultural, and wildlife habitat at Coyote Hills. The planning process is expected to be complete in 2018 with potential approval in summer 2018.

The East Bay Regional Park District is a system of beautiful public parks and trails in Alameda and Contra Costa counties east of San Francisco Bay, established in 1934. The system comprises 121,000 acres in 73 parks including over1,250 miles of trails for hiking, biking, horseback riding and nature learning.