Persevering Through COVID-19
A MESSAGE FROM GENERAL MANAGER ROBERT E. DOYLE
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For the past four months, COVID-19 has placed enormous demands on our parks. We have kept the majority of our parks open while facing significant capacity challenges and safety issues. In fact, results from a scientific survey conducted by the Park District on park and trail use during COVID-19 show that the public views Regional Parks as an essential service that should remain open. The District is now soliciting public feedback through an online survey.
Keeping parks open at this time has also presented challenges. More people in parks has meant more user conflicts, misbehaving dogs, trash collection, and lost/injured hikers, among other impacts – all while facing a park staff shortage and constantly changing state and local health orders.
At the same time, fire dangers have continued to grow – demanding increased wildfire fuels reductions and readiness.
We are proud of our efforts and work to keep parks open over the past few months, with over 99 percent of the Park District’s 125,000 acres of parklands, 55 miles of shoreline, and 1,300 miles of recreational trails remaining accessible for walking, hiking, biking, and horseback riding. A new episode of OpenRoad with Doug McConnell highlights how the parks have provided an essential service for public health and physical and mental well being during the pandemic.
In a recent East Bay Times OpEd, Rep. Mark DeSaulnier and former Rep. George Miller highlighted the importance of outdoor recreation, citing how federal funding is needed from Congress to meet the rapidly rising demand. We are truly grateful that, in light of this need and many years of advocacy, the Great American Outdoors Act was signed into law on August 4.
We look forward to reopening additional areas as soon as possible, including boating and kiosks. Unfortunately, the Park District’s swim areas will not open this year.
Be safe, and see you in your Regional Parks!
Robert E. Doyle
General Manager
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COVID-19 Park & Community Survey |
The Park District’s parks and trails have seen an unprecedented surge in visitation, resulting in crowding and significant impacts. In May, the District conducted a scientific survey to gather public input regarding park and trail use during COVID-19. Initial results show many people consider Regional Parks to be an essential service.
The Park District is now conducting an online survey to gather public views and feedback! We want to hear from you. What are your thoughts? Fill out the survey here.
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The East Bay Regional Park District’s fire department is gearing up for a potentially dangerous fire season. Weather forecasters are predicting more frequent, dry offshore breezes. And although this was a relatively dry winter, late spring rains stimulated more growth by already tall grasses.
To combat fires, the Park District has 50 full and part-time firefighters – park employees with other primary job duties, but also fully trained firefighters, available when needed.
A new and important component of the fire department is an eight-member fuels reduction crew that works throughout the year to clear brush away from trails and trim trees. They also help fight wildfires when needed. More Info.
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Permanent Funding for Land & Water Conservation Fund |
On Tuesday, August 4, 2020, the Great American Outdoors Act was signed into law. This long-awaited, bi-partisan legislation will permanently provide $900 million annually for the Land & Water Conservation Fund (LWCF). The Park District thanks our Congressional delegation for supporting this historic natural resource investment!
Over the past 50 years, the LWCF program has provided over $16 million in funding for various parks and trails in the East Bay Regional Park District, including $750,000 for the Bay Point Wetland Restoration and Public Access Project in 2017.
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Legislator Walk & Talks Highlight Regional Parks During COVID-19 |
In recent social media video premieres, District 16 Assemblymember Rebecca Bauer-Kahan joined EBRPD Board Directors and naturalists for virtual discovery walks in Las Trampas Wilderness Regional Preserve and Pleasanton Ridge Regional Park. Watch a replay of their visits!
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Board Director Beverly Lane and Supervising Naturalist Ashley Grenier - Las Trampas: Link to Video
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Board Director Ayn Wieskamp and Naturalist Ashley Adams - Pleasanton Ridge: Link to Video
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OpenRoad: The East Bay Regional Parks Respond to COVID-19 |
Watch the most recent episode of OpenRoad with Doug McConnell which focuses on how the Regional Parks remain open and accessible during the pandemic, and how COVID-19 has shown parks are an essential service for physical health and mental well being. Watch Episode.
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Wearing a mask or face covering protects yourself and others and ensures everyone can enjoy Regional Parks. Share your #RockingtheMaskEBRPD pics/videos and receive a Park District bandana!
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Visit a Regional Park
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Rock out! Take a picture or video of yourself dancing with a mask on
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Share your pics or video at ebparks.org/RockingTheMaskEBRPD
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2021 Wall Calendar
Submit Your #LoveEBRPD Photos for a Chance to be included
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Want your picture featured in the Park District’s 2021 annual calendar? Next year’s calendar theme is #LoveEBRPD and will feature park user photos. The theme was chosen based on the great photos and comments visitors have been posting on social media. Enter Photo Contest
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100th Anniversary of the 19th Amendment |
August 26 marks the 100th Anniversary of the ratification of the 19th Amendment, which guaranteed women the right to vote. In recognition of this historic milestone, visit our Women in Parks webpage, which highlights some of the many women who contributed to the success of the Park District. Women have played an important role in the Park District’s 86-year history of protecting open space and connecting people with nature in the East Bay.
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A recent Bay Estuary Magazine article shows how the Park District’s planning efforts address climate change and future sea level challenges to ensure visitor facilities and wildlife habitat can withstand environmental changes. More Info.
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Together #WeAreEBRPD, ensuring infrastructure and equipment are well-maintained and helping keep parks open and safe during COVID-19. Please do your part to keep parks safe, clean, and open.
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Albany Beach and Bay Trail Now Open
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On Saturday, July 18, 2020, the Park District celebrated completion of the Albany Beach and SF Bay Trail Project with a live stream video. The $18.9 million project includes shoreline and beach habitat restoration, trail improvements along Albany Neck and additional public amenities at Albany Beach, such as a parking lot, restrooms, and picnic tables. The new panoramic one-mile segment of the SF Bay Trail closed a major gap resulting in an 18-mile continuous trail running from Oakland to Richmond. More Info.
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Regional Parks Glyphosate-Free in Developed Areas |
The Park District’s 2019 Integrated Pest Management Annual Report is now available, showing glyphosate has been removed from general use in developed areas, including parking lots, picnic areas, campgrounds, lawns, and paved trails, in response to public concerns over its safety. The District began reducing glyphosate use in parks in 2016. The Park District Board passed a resolution in July 2019 that helped accelerate its phase-out. Glyphosate is ONLY used for ecological functions outside of developed areas.
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Iron Horse Regional Trail Being Considered for Hall of Fame Award – VOTE TODAY
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The Park District’s Iron Horse Regional Trail (IHRT) has been nominated for the Rails to Trails Conservancy Hall of Fame. It is one of the largest and oldest multi-use trails in the Bay Area and lies within former Southern Pacific Railroad (SPR) right-of-way which was abandoned in 1978. “Iron Horse” is an iconic name for steam locomotives.
Today the IHRT travels 32 miles between Concord and Pleasanton and connects seven cities, two counties, two BART stations, and over 30 schools. The trail is a critical piece of the region’s green transportation network that connects people to work centers, commercial centers, and schools – helping take cars off the road, reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Eventually, the IHRT will stretch over 40 miles from Suisun Bay to Livermore, connecting 12 cities and 3 BART stations. VOTE today!
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Park District’s 2019 85th Anniversary Campaign Receives Award from CAPIO |
The Park District’s 2019 public information and outreach program was recently honored by the California Association of Public Information Officers (CAPIO) with an EPIC Award for Marketing and Promotion. The 85th Anniversary Campaign highlighted the Park District as an invaluable land management and public health resource. The commemoration included robust public participation through events and a community survey, Free Park Fridays, and commemorative lanyard and pins collected at Visitor Centers throughout the District, among other items. More Info.
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Park District Receives Two American Planning Association Awards |
The Park District has been awarded an Innovation in Green Community Planning award for the new Judge John Sutter Regional Shoreline from the American Planning Association. The plan transforms a previous military base and industrial land into a thriving regional park with shoreline restoration and passive recreation. The American Planning Association also honored General Manager Robert Doyle with the Planning Pioneer Award of Excellence. More Info.
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Regional Parks Botanic Garden Receives National Award |
The Regional Parks Botanic Garden was recently honored with the Frank Cabot Award by North American Rock Garden Society (NARGS). The award recognizes public gardens that feature outstanding rock gardens and rock garden plants. Francis H. Cabot was a major figure in public gardens in the US and was the founder of the Garden Conservancy. It is the first national award for the Botanic Garden. More Info.
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Connecting Parks to People |
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