Measure AA (1988)

Measure AA Facts
About Measure AA
Measure AA Projects
Measure AA Brochures
Measure AA New Acquisitions Map

Measure AA Facts

Date approved
November 1988

Timeline
20-years (1988-2008)

Amount of bonds financed
$225 million

Acreage of open space promised
25,000 acres

Acreage of open space added
34,000 acres (200 individual acquisitions)

Miles of regional trails added
Over 100 miles

Doubled funding
Successfully leveraged Measure AA's initial bond funding through dollar-for-dollar federal and state matching funds, effectively doubling the yield from Measure AA – at no additional cost to East Bay taxpayers.

Land acquisition
Appropriated over $116 million in AA funds for open space land acquisition and attracted an additional $88 million in matching funds.

Park improvements
Appropriated $44 million in capital funds for park improvements and attracted an additional $71 million in matching funds. (148 projects completed or in progress)

Community projects
$56 million for 235 accessible local parks and recreation facilities to serve the growing population in virtually every East Bay community; $4 million for the Oakland Zoo.

Tax savings
Refinanced the existing Measure AA bonds at a lower interest rate, saving taxpayers more than $14 million over the life of the bonds, or over $8.5 million in
present value savings.

About Measure AA

In 1988, with increased urbanization in the East Bay and skyrocketing land prices, EBRPD struggled to keep pace with the growing population. With their commitment to open space and regional parks, over two-thirds of the voters in Alameda and Contra Costa counties voted for Measure AA - a $225 million bond measure. Passage of Measure AA provided funding the acquisition and preservation of 34,000 acres of some of the most beautiful and pristine East Bay land. The result is the present network of parks, open space lands, and trails, recognized as one of the best examples of integrated parklands in any urban region in the United States.

Leverage: Since Measure AA's passage, EBRPD has more than doubled the investment by leveraging money to secure over $49 million of matching funds from other public agencies and private donors at no additional cost to taxpayers. In addition, EBRPD officials have strategically refinanced existing Measure AA bonds at lower interest rates, saving taxpayers more than $14 million over the life of the bonds.

Community Support: With about 25 percent of Measure AA funds allocated toward local park projects, EBRPD has funded close to $60 million worth of recreational needs for every city in its jurisdiction, including restoring swimming pools, sports fields, playgrounds, and community and senior centers.

Measure AA Projects

These regional parks, shorelines, visitor centers, trails, recreation areas, and wetlands benefited from Measure AA - either through additional land acquisition or capital improvements.

Berkeley to Richmond

Parks: Tilden, Wildcat Canyon
Shorelines: Brooks Island, McLaughlin Eastshore State Park, Miller/Knox, Point Pinole
Visitor Center: Tilden's Environmental Education Center
Trails: Point Isabel to Miller/Knox, Point Pinole to Lone Tree, Wildcat to Point Pinole

Oakland to Lamorinda

Parks: Anthony Chabot, Briones, Claremont Canyon, Leona Open Space, Redwood, Sibley, Huckleberry
Recreation Areas: Roberts, Temescal
Trails: Las Trampas to I-680

Hayward to Castro Valley

Parks: Garin/Dry Creek, Vargas Plateau
Shoreline: Hayward Shoreline
Visitor Centers: Garin Barn Visitor Center, Dry Creek Meyers Estate
Recreation Areas/Lakes: Quarry Lakes, Del Valle
Trails: Cull Canyon to Garin, Garin to Mission Peak, Hayward Shoreline to Coyote Hills
Wetlands: Alvarado Wetlands

Alameda to San Leandro Shoreline

Shorelines: Crown Beach, Martin Luther King Jr., Oyster Bay
Visitor Center: Crab Cove
Recreation Areas: Cull Canyon
Trails: Martin Luther King Jr. to Oyster Bay

Livermore, Pleasanton, Fremont

Parks: Coyote Hills, Dublin Hills, Mission Peak, Pleasanton Ridge, Sunol/Ohlone
Visitor Centers: Ardenwood Historic Farm, Sunol
Recreation Areas: Shadow Cliffs, Quarry Lakes
Trails: Cull Canyon to Garin, Del Valle to Shadow Cliffs, Garin to Mission Peak, Hayward Shoreline to Coyote Hills, Iron Horse Regional Trail, Pleasanton Ridge to Las Trampas, Shadow Cliffs to Sunol

Central Contra Costa County

Parks: Bishop Ranch, Briones, Diablo Foothills, Las Trampas, Morgan Territory, Round Valley, Sycamore Valley
Trails: California State Riding and Hiking Trail, Contra Costa Canal Trail, Iron Horse Regional Trail, Las Trampas to I-680, Big Break to Round Valley, Pleasanton Ridge to Las Trampas

Martinez to Discovery Bay

Parks: Black Diamond Mines, Briones, Clayton Ranch, Crockett Hills, Vasco Caves
Shorelines: Big Break, Carquinez Strait, Delta Access, Delta Shoreline, Martinez, Point Molate, San Pablo Bay Shoreline
Visitor Center: Greathouse Visitor Center at Black Diamond Mines
Recreation Area: Contra Loma
Trails: Black Diamond to Mt. Diablo Regional Trail, California State Riding and Hiking Trail, Carquinez Strait Trail, Iron Horse Regional Trail, Point Pinole to Lone Tree Point, Wildcat to Point Pinole
Wetlands: Pittsburg Wetlands, Richmond Wetlands