AUGUST 2017
Your monthly EBRPD news & updates
State Park Bond, E-Bikes, Summer Swimming, Rail Fair, Activities.
Statewide Park Bond Needed to Address California’s Natural Infrastructure
As Californians, we all know the significant impact parks, open space and the environment – not to mention our climate – have on our quality of life. They are one of the reasons so many of us flocked here and stayed here. But today, our State Parks face significant challenges.

Years of neglect and inadequate funding have left our once “best in the nation” state system of beautiful parks and open spaces with a $25 billion backlog of repair and maintenance needs.

Additionally, parks are the front line of climate change and are being impacted today by extreme weather, rising sea-levels, droughts and fires – all adding on to an already overwhelming list of needs.

The good news is there are two statewide park bond proposals, AB 18 (Rendon) and SB 5 (De León) moving through the state legislature that would address park needs by placing a statewide park bond on the November 2018 ballot.

As the largest regional park district in the nation, with over 65 regional parks on 121,000 acres of open space, we have the responsibility to make sure the public is informed about a potential statewide park bond and how it would benefit our local regional parks. A statewide park bond would also include funding to address local park needs.

It has been 15 years since the last statewide park bond was passed in California. That is simply way too long. The time to invest in our parks is now. 

Please join me in sharing the importance of parks and open space with legislators and the governor today.




General Manager Robert E. Doyle
Doyle GM pic update
Board Ok's E-Bike Test
E-Bike Pilot Program Comes to Regional Trails
Young woman riding electric bicycle or e-bike in park
On Wednesday, July 5, 2017, the East Bay Regional Park District Board of Directors voted unanimously to implement a one year E-Bike Pilot Program on three regional trails in the Park District. The program will last one year through July 2018 and includes plans to conduct outreach on the specific trails affected to make sure users are informed about the program and share the trails with their fellow users appropriately.

The outreach effort will include gathering information about users views, perceptions and experiences. Park District employees will be performing user counts, monitoring usage, and conducting surveys on the trails covered by the pilot program.

The pilot program applies to three Park District trails and only covers Class 1 & 2 electric motor-assisted E-Bikes. All existing regional trail rules, including the current 15 mph speed limit, will remain in full effect during the pilot program.

Class 1 & 2 E-bikes includes bikes with fully operable pedals and electric motor of less than 750 watts.

The three trails authorized by the pilot program are the Contra Costa Canal Regional Trail in Contra Costa County, the Alameda Creek Trail in Alameda County and the Iron Horse Trail running through both Contra Costa and Alameda Counties.

Cool off at a Swim Facility
There are plenty of swimming opportunities for you in the East Bay Regional Park District, with six open-water lakefront beaches, three chlorinated lagoons, two pools, and two bay shoreline beaches.

Find your favorite summer splash zone!

Locations, Hours






swim beach
SWIM SAFELY!

Water Safety Tips
  • If you’re unsure of your swimming abilities, wear a life-jacket. Each of our swim facilities has free loaner life-jackets available.
  • Keep a close eye on your children. Drowning can occur quickly and silently, even in a foot of water.
  • Refrain from drinking alcohol if you plan on swimming.
  • Only swim in areas with a lifeguard on duty.
  • Boats must have life-jackets for every person on board. Those under age 16 must wear life-jackets while on a boat. Click here for more information about the State of California boating safety laws.
  • If you’re not a strong swimmer, take swim lessons! The Park District and most East Bay cities offer swim lessons throughout the summer. 


Children 12 years old and under are not permitted in the swimming area unless accompanied by a responsible, actively supervising, individual 16 years old or older.

Microscopic view of green algae  Spirogyra . Rheinberg illumination.     Note  Soft Focus at 100 , best at smaller sizes
Algae Blooms:
What you Need to Know
The warm weather means algae blooms in some bodies of water - including swim areas that may be periodically closed if toxic strains are found. Learn about blue-green algae and check the list of affected swim facilities here. Updated daily.

Dog owners: Check before you go so you know whether to keep Rover out of the water!
Rail Fair
Ardenwood Historic Farm
Labor Day Weekend
Sat., Sun. & Mon
Sept. 2, 3 & 4
10 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Come to the 18th annual Historic Rail Fair at Ardenwood! Enjoy narrow gauge steam train rides, garden and model railroads including live steam locomotives, early day gas engines, the Hobo game for children, special activities for children 6 and under, and live music.

Tickets:
Adults $12, Seniors $8 (62+ yrs.), Children $7 (4-17 yrs.). Ages 4 and under – free admission.Free parking.


Know Before You Go
Before you head to your favorite park or trail, take a moment to check conditions by visiting www.ebparks.org/closure .

Current closures include:
Anthony Chabot Reg. Park: Trail closures, and Redwood Road closed.
Black Diamond Mines: Greathouse Visitor Center closed due to construction work
Crockett Hills: trail closures
Lake Chabot: Lake Loop closure
Martin Luther King Jr.: right dock (south) closed

Updated daily.
2017 Trails Challenge logo
Trails Challenge User Survey
Are you participating in this year's Trails Challenge? Please take a few moments to complete our survey! Your answers will help guide future editions of this signature program.


PS It's not too late to get started! Download the Trails Challenge guidebook and get outdoors.
Become a Member
Show your support for the East Bay Regional Parks and explore all the parks have to offer by joining our Membership Program!

Membership is an affordable and easy way to experience the parks and there are several membership options to choose from: Regular, Special Access, Angler and Donor Circle Memberships.

new RPF logo
Careers at EBRPD
EBRPD is hiring! Current opportunities include Administrative Analyst, Gate Attendant, Heavy Equipment Operator, Interpretive Student Aide, Park Craft Specialist, Public Safety Student Aide, & Student Laborer.

Coyote Hills boardwalk
Featured Activities

Sat., Aug. 19, 8:30 - 10:30 a.m., Some Lichen It Hot , Black Diamond Mines

Sat. Aug. 19, 8 - 10 p.m., Free Movie Night: Shaun the Sheep , Ardenwood Historic Farm

Sat. & Sun., Aug. 19-20, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., Photography Exhibit , Big Break Visitor Center

Sun., Aug. 20, 10:30 a.m. - 12 p.m., Summer Splashdown! Dip nets in pools of Alameda Creek, Sunol Regional Wilderness

Mon., Aug. 21, 9:30 - 111 a.m., Eclipse Program , Big Break Visitor Center

Sat., Aug. 26, 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., Knap-in: Stone Tool Making , Coyote Hills

Sun., Aug. 27, 10:30 a.m. - 12 p.m., Summer Beach Cleanup , Crab Cove

Sun., Aug. 27, 1 - 4 p.m., Barnyard Blacksmithin g, Garin

Discover even more fun! Search online by park, date or other keywords. Or browse through a PDF of our bi-monthly activity guide, Regional in Nature .


Photo: Coyote Hills Regional Park by Zachary Rappaport
OpenRoadTV
The East Bay Regional Park District is a proud sponsor of OpenRoad on NBC Bay Area. Watch for episodes airing most Sunday nights at 6:30 p.m.


 East Bay Regional Park District |1 (888) EBPARKS | [email protected] | www.ebparks.org