Park Happenings for March

(Please feel free to use excerpts. Photos available at https://bit.ly/ParkHappeningsforMarch2025)

🌸Wildflowers springing up in East Bay Regional Parks. Spring is a great time to get outdoors in the East Bay Regional Park District. Hillsides and meadows are bursting with life, vibrant colors, and one of spring’s greatest gifts on full display—wildflowers! Some Regional Parks to view wildflowers include Sunol Wilderness Regional Preserve, Ohlone Wilderness Regional Preserve, and Black Diamond Mines Regional Preserve, among others. Hundreds of wildflower species can be viewed in East Bay Regional Parks. To learn more, visit ebparks.org/parks/nature/wildflowers.

From late March to early May, Sunol Wilderness Regional Preserve hosts special Sunol Wildflower Season hikes and programs. For more information, visit the Sunol Wildflower Season webpage at ebparks.org/parks/nature/wildflowers/sunol-wilderness-regional-wildflower-season

Other Regional Parks also offer naturalist-led programs. For a complete list of wildflower-themed programs, visit ebparks.org/calendar and search “wildflowers.”

––––––––––

🔥WILDFIRE UPDATE—Reducing wildfire risks in East Bay Regional Parks. January’s Southern California wildfires are a tragic reminder of how destructive and damaging that fires can be to life, property, and the environment. The East Bay Regional Park District works year-round to reduce fire fuels, with the goal of reducing fire intensity and enhancing firefighters' ability to contain wildfires when they arise. In the last six years, the number of East Bay Regional Park District fire department personnel focused on fuels reduction increased from six to 23. Additionally, in the previous four years alone, the spending on wildfire protection has increased from $2.2 million to $9.4 million, supported by a combination of Park District funding, voter-approved funding, and state and federal grants. To learn more about what is being done to reduce wildfire risks in East Bay Regional Parks, visit www.ebparks.org/about-us/whats-new/news/wildfire-protection or youtube.com/c/eastbayregionalparks.

––––––––––

🐏Wool you join us? At East Bay Regional Park District’s Ardenwood Historic Farm in Fremont, the arrival of spring brings visions of rains washing the earth, flowers blooming, baby birds chirping, and newborn lambs frolicking. These lambs bear the promise of an important resource that has been used for thousands of years—wool—in products such as clothing, bedding, upholstery, and rugs. Currently, Ardenwood Historic Farm houses a flock of over 20 Gotland sheep, a modern Swedish breed marked by lustrous wool in varying shades of gray. Their wool can grow quite long, allowing them to be sheared twice a year.

Enjoy wool-related programs and events at Ardenwood this spring to learn more about how wool is used. For more information, visit ebparks.org/parks/ardenwood.

––––––––––

🦺Lifeguards wanted for summer 2025. Open-water lifeguards have the unique opportunity to protect lives in a variety of environments, including pools, lagoons, lakes, and the bay. East Bay Regional Park District Lifeguard Services provides high-quality lifeguards for recreational swimming, aquatic special events, and aquatic programs at 15 swimming areas. All applicants are required to complete a physical agility swim test. Tests are being offered beginning in mid-March. Applications are accepted through Mar. 31. For more information, visit eblifeguard.org/job.

––––––––––

👩‍🌾Borel agricultural park planning update. The Park District is conducting a survey to gather input about the future 10-acre Borel agricultural park in Danville. Help plan the park by sharing thoughts on activities, facilities, and amenities. The survey is the first step in the planning process. Additional outreach activities will be scheduled in the coming months. To participate in the survey, visit ebparks.org/projects/future-borel-agricultural-park/VisioningSurvey. To view the project webpage, visit ebparks.org/projects/future-borel-agricultural-park.

––––––––––

💦Del Valle Day by the Water. Mar. 22 is recognized as “World Water Day” to celebrate and appreciate the importance of water to people, plants, and animals. The East Bay experiences firsthand how quickly water availability can shift from drought to an overabundance. Explore the connection between water, climate change, and extreme weather patterns through fun and interactive activities at Del Valle’s Day by the Water on Saturday, Mar. 22, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. For more information, visit ebparks.org/parks/del-valle.

––––––––––

😎Park District summer camp registrations opening Apr. 1. Park’n It Day Camp (ages 5-12, ages 8-12 for Roberts), Leaders-In-Training (ages 13-17), Tilden Little Farm Camp (ages 8-11), Junior Farmer Camp (ages 12-15), Bay Adventure Camp (ages 8-12), Junior Lifeguards (ages 8-12), Junior Lifeguard Aides (ages 13-15), and Junior Lifeguard Cadets (ages 14-17) are traditional summer day camp programs that take place Monday to Friday in various East Bay Regional Parks. Camps feature hands-on experiences under the care of trained recreation leaders, lifeguards, and naturalists.

The Regional Parks Foundation offers "Camperships" financial aid for East Bay Regional Park District day camps. For more information, visit ebparks.org/financial-aid.

––––––––––