FEBRUARY 2017
Your monthly EBRPD news & updates
New Board members, winter storms, outdoor activities & more!
Adapting to Climate Change

The Park District’s top priority is keeping our parks, shorelines, lakes and trails safe and well-maintained.  A big part of that responsibility is preparing for the future: Taking steps now to adapt to a changing climate, and a rising San Francisco Bay.

Continue to letter from EBRPD General Manager Robert E. Doyle
Doyle GM pic update
Welcome New Park District Board Members
Three new officials are joining the EBRPD Board of Directors this year. Each Board member represents a specific geographic area of the Park District.

Dee Rosario is the new Board member representing Ward 2.  Prior to his retirement, Mr. Rosario worked for EBRPD for 37 years as a park ranger, firefighter, fire lieutenant, and as park supervisor of Redwood Regional Park.  Dee Rosario represents: most of Oakland, Piedmont, Canyon, Moraga, Orinda, Orinda Village, Rheem Valley, Lafayette, Rossmoor, and part of Walnut Creek. Parks in his ward include: portion of Briones, Anthony Chabot (north of Keller Ave. if extended east), Claremont Canyon, Huckleberry, Leona Open Space, a small portion of Las Trampas, Redwood, Roberts, Sibley, and Temescal.

Ellen Corbett is the new Board member representing Ward 4. Ms. Corbett was the majority leader of the California State Senate, representing the 10th District. Ellen Corbett represents: Alameda, a portion of Oakland, part of Hayward, San Leandro, and San Lorenzo. Parks in her ward include: a small portion of Anthony Chabot, Crown Beach, Oyster Bay, and Martin Luther King, Jr., Regional Shoreline.

On Jan. 31st, the Board appointed Colin Coffey as the new Board member for the Ward 7 seat left vacant by the departure of Diane Burgis. Mr. Coffey is an attorney specializing in public health at Archer Norris in Walnut Creek. He is a longtime volunteer having served twice on the Park Advisory Committee for EBRPD and as a volunteer Ambassador.

Ward 7 generally encompasses the communities of: Antioch, Bay Point, Bethel Island, Brentwood, Byron, Crockett, Discovery Bay, Hercules, Knightsen, Martinez, Mt. View, Oakley, Pacheco, portion of Pinole, Pittsburg, Port Costa, Rodeo, and Vine Hill.

The 2017 EBRPD Board of Directors officers are:
Beverly Lane, President
Dennis Waespi, Vice-President
Ayn Wieskamp, Treasurer
Ellen Corbett, Secretary*

Whitney Dotson was re-elected as the Board representative for Ward One, which is comprised of Albany, Berkeley, Emeryville, El Cerrito, El Sobrante, Kensington, part of Pinole, Richmond and San Pablo.


Winter Storms Cause Park & Trail Closures
Recent winter storms have caused  trail and park closures. The Park District encourages visitors to "know before you go": check our closures page at www.ebparks.org/closure for updates, or call us at 1 (888) EBPARKS.

Notably, Del Valle Regional Park in Livermore closed due to flooding and associated damage. The park and campground remain closed through Feb. 13.

Other storm-related trail updates as of Feb. 1st:
Alameda Creek Regional Trail: Rolling closures Feb. 14 - 16 by county flood control.

Anthony Chabot Regional Park: Honker Bay Trail closed. Flooding at Cascade Trail.

Coyote Hills Regional Park: Flooding on trails and marshes.

Diablo Foothills Regional Park: Parts of Castle Rock Trail closed.

Iron Horse Regional Trail: The trail is closed at the Concord Avenue and Diamond Avenue underpasses in Concord due to flooding.

Redwood Regional Park
As of Jan. 13, 2017, and until further notice: Stream Trail is closed between the intersections with Fern Trail and Chown Trail due to storm damage.

Shadow Cliffs Regional Recreation Area
As of Jan. 13, 2017, and until further notice: the Lake Trail, the Arroyo Del Valle bridge and the North Arroyo Trail are closed due to storm damage.  

Photo: Flooding and debris at Del Valle Regional Park
Golden Gate Audubon Anniversary
Congratulations to the Golden Gate Audubon Society on 100 years of inspiring people to protect Bay Area birds! Founded in 1917 by a small group of birdwatchers, the GGAS celebrates a century of commitment to protecting local birds.


Find out more about special anniversary events and ways to participate. Golden Gate Audubon

GGA
News from Regional Parks Foundation
new RPF logo

Foundation Partners with Drake's Brewery for Successful Fundraiser

Last year, The Regional Parks Foundation partnered with Drake's Brewing Co. of San Leandro to raise funds for trail restoration projects at the East Bay Regional Park District through sales of their newest summer seasonal beer, Kick Back IPA. Drake's raised over $10,000 for trails projects through community support at five local fundraising events and direct sales of Kick Back IPA. Join us for the 2017 releases at Drake's First Friday Fundraiser at Drake's Barrel House in San Leandro on Friday, June 2 and help us raise even more funds for vital projects.


Upcoming Charity Partner Day at Whole Foods: April 5

Whole Foods has chosen the Regional Parks Foundation as their charity partner for their 5% Day on Wednesday, April 5, 2017. All nine Bay Area stores will donate 5% of their sales profits that day to the Foundation to fund trail maintenance and restoration projects for the East Bay Regional Park District. The more our supporters shop at Whole Foods on April 5, the more we raise for our parks! 


Photo below: Drake's representatives present check to the Regional Parks Foundation.
Left to right: Drake's owner Roy Kirkorian, EBRPD Director Dennis Waespi, Drake's owner John Martin, Drake's Outreach and Events Manager Amanda Cowles, RPF Board Treasurer John Dilsaver, RPF Board President Bill Yarborough, RPF Board VP Chip Conradi, and Drake's Director of Marketing Brandon Borgel.

Drake's presents RPF with check
Join the Trails Challenge
 Are you ready to explore your Regional Parks? Join this year's annual Trails Challenge - a self-guided, self-paced adventure through 20 different trails each year. Getting started is easy - no registration is needed. Just download the PDF online and get started. Finish at least five hikes or 26.2 miles of trails by Dec. 1st to earn your commemorative pin.

T-shirts and printed guidebooks are available free at participating Visitor Centers while supplies last. This program is free thanks to support from the Regional Parks Foundation and Kaiser Permanente of Northern California.

Trails Challenge

Trails Challenge T-shirt 2017
Big Break by Mark Ragatz
Featured Activities
  East Bay Regional Park District |1 (888) EBPARKS | info@ebparks.org | www.ebparks.org