Your monthly EBRPD news & updates
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Unprecedented Closure of Regional Parks
Thank You for Your Cooperation & Understanding
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Earlier this week Regional Parks were closed due to extreme weather and fire danger. It was the first time in the Park District's 85-year history that all parks were forced to close due to weather. I’d like to thank the public for their cooperation and understanding during the temporary closure.
Our region's fire danger is real. Nothing shows us more than last Sunday’s fire in Vallejo that, aided by strong winds, jumped the Carquinez Strait into Crockett. Other cities where fires broke out on Sunday included Clayton, Lafayette, Martinez, and Oakley. Thankfully, none of the fires earlier this week turned into catastrophic events.
Since the 1991 Oakland Firestorm, the Park District has made significant enhancements to wildfire prevention and readiness, including monitoring fire weather conditions, reducing fire fuels in our parks, maintaining specialized wildland firefighting equipment and training, and partnering with other state and local fire agencies, such as CAL FIRE and EBMUD, to ensure coordinated response. Because of these efforts, we are more prepared today for wildfire than we ever have been.
Park staff will continue to assess damage, clear debris, and evaluate potential safety risks over the next few weeks. Stay safe, and see you soon in your Regional Parks!
Robert E. Doyle
General Manager
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Notice of Board Vacancy – Ward 1
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Ward 1 board member Whitney Dotson has announced his retirement from the East Bay Regional Park District Board of Directors, effective December 18, 2019. The Park District is accepting applications to fill the vacancy. Applications must be submitted by noon on Friday, November 8, 2019.
More info
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Work to Begin Soon on Largest Creek Restoration Project in Park District History
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Over 3,000 feet of Alder Creek and Leatherwood Creek in Sibley Volcanic Regional Preserve will soon be restored thanks to $4 million secured by Assemblymember Rebecca-Bauer-Kahan (D-Danville) in the 2019 state budget. The project includes the daylighting of 2,800 feet that was culverted underground by the former property owners. Public access and recreational facilities also planned as part of the project include parking, picnic areas, restrooms, water fountains, a group campsite, trails, and interpretive panels. Restoration work is expected to take two years.
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Redwood Regional Park Renamed After First Female Park District Board Member
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Coinciding with the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment, which granted women the right to vote, the East Bay Regional Park District is honoring one of its earliest champions of parks and open space by renaming Redwood Regional Park after Dr. Aurelia Reinhardt. Dr. Aurelia Henry Reinhardt was one of five original board members – and the only female – elected to the newly-founded Park District in 1934. The Park District Board of Directors took official action renaming the park to Dr. Aurelia Reinhardt Redwood Regional park at its October 15, 2019 meeting. A public renaming celebration will be held at a later date.
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Report Shows Dredging Needed at Lake Temescal
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Created in 1860, Lake Temescal is one of the Park District’s oldest regional parks. Today, however, Lake Temescal is under threat from the buildup of sediment that has reduced the lake’s depth from 60-80 feet in 1860 to just 15 feet today. The decreasing depth has led to cyanobacteria (also known as blue-green algae) challenges through higher water temperatures, increased nutrients in the sediment, and lower oxygen levels. A recent study by the Park District shows that the only feasible long-term solution to reduce build-up and improve the lake’s ability to function is dredging - an expensive proposition.
More info
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Spend Green Friday in Your Regional Parks
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Would you like to work off your holiday meal in a beautiful outdoor setting? Join us on Friday, November 29 (the day after Thanksgiving) for
Green Friday
at one of the Park District’s free post-holiday adventures. Green Friday is part of the “OptOutside” movement started by REI in 2015 when they closed their doors on Black Friday to encourage employees and the public to explore the outdoors rather than shopping. Planned Green Friday events include:
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South Park Drive in Tilden Park Closed for Annual Newt Migration
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South Park Drive in Tilden Regional Park will be closed to all motor vehicle traffic from October 31, 2019, through March 31, 2020, to protect migrating and breeding newts. Bicycles are allowed but should proceed slowly and avoid newts crossing the road. The annual detour ensures safe habitat for the small, slow-moving newts who make Tilden Park their home.
More info
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Behind the Name
Ever wonder how a park, trail, or special spot got its name?
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To celebrate the Park District's 85th anniversary,
Bay Nature
magazine dove into our archives and found some of the fascinating stories behind the names of East Bay Regional Parks. Find out how some of the Park District’s most treasured parks and trails got their names.
More info
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Park District Part of Region’s Wildfire Response
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During recent East Bay fire incidents, the Park District Fire Department and Park Police played an important role as first responders in and around the Park District. The Park District Fire Department is sometimes first on the scene of fire incidents or is dispatched during multi-agency emergency calls, and Park Police helicopter unit (Eagle 7) is often used to drop water on fires. Recent fires the Park District has responded to include:
- NuStar fire in Crockett, where Eagle 7 made 10 water drops totaling 1,152 gallons of water. (October 15)
- Orwood fire near Orwood Resort in Brentwood, where Eagle 7 made 25 water drops totaling 3,240 gallons of water. (October 21)
- Point Isabel fire in Richmond, where Eagle 7, Park District firefighters, Contra Costa Fire, and Richmond firefighters responded to a 4-acre fire that started from a homeless encampment. (October 24)
- Kincade fire in Sonoma County, where an Office of Emergency Services (OES) engine with 4 Park District firefighters responded to protect structures in the path of the fire. (October 24)
- Cypress Complex fires in Oakley, three separate fires located in Eastern Contra Costa County. Fire engines responded at the request of Cal Fire. (October 27)
- Leon fire in Clayton, where multiple structures were threatened but no structures were lost. Water tender responded by request of Cal Fire. (October 27)
- Sky fire in Crockett, which originally started in Vallejo and jumped across the Carquinez Strait, due to high winds, into the area of Highway 80 near Cummings Skyway. Park Police evacuated a portion of Crockett. Four fire engines and the fuels crew responded. (October 27)
- Pleasant fires in Lafayette near Highway 24 and Pleasant Hill Road. Park District Police initially reported the fire and immediately started evacuating homes. Park units assisted with evacuations. (October 27)
- Forest fire, a 50-acre fire near Alhambra Ave. in Martinez, about a mile south of Highway 4. (October 27)
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Concord Hills Regional Park Update
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Updated Concord Hills Land Use Plan Available for Review
On October 18, 2019, the East Bay Regional Park District published a final Land Use Plan for the new Concord Hills Regional Park. Once implemented, the adopted plan will provide a world-class regional park with a full range of trail opportunities, wildlife preservation, and environmental and historic interpretation.
More info
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Concord Hills Community Meeting Wrap-up
Thank you to the members of the community who came out on October 26th for a special meeting at Concord Hills. Local residents joined park officials and city and county representatives to take naturalist-led walking tours and learn about plans for the new regional park.
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Governor Signs Bills Benefiting Environment, Regional Parks
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Three key bills supported by the Park District passed through the legislature this year to improve park visitor health, increase access to environmental education, and further the Park District’s commitment to coastal climate change adaptation, infrastructure, and preparedness.
SB 8
(Senator Steve Glazer)
– Bans smoking at state parks and beaches.
AB 209
(Assemblymember Monique Limón)
– Establishes Outdoor Equity Grant Program program for environmental education.
SB 576
(Senator Tom Umberg)
– Establishes
Climate Ready Program
to develop and oversee a coastal climate adaptation, infrastructure, and coastal readiness program.
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Help Your Regional Parks
Volunteer Programs Key to District Success
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The Park District could not offer the public the variety of services and programs that we do without the assistance of dedicated volunteers. There may be a place for you
to join our exceptional volunteer community!
Ambassadors
represent the Park District at a variety of community-based events, fairs, festivals, and official park dedications.
Docents
at Park District visitor centers volunteer alongside naturalists to provide hands-on learning opportunities to students, and assist with special events.
Trail Safety Patrol Volunteers
comprise five patrol groups: Volunteer Mounted Patrol, Volunteer Bicycle Patrol, Volunteer Hiking Patrol, Companion Dog Patrol, and Volunteer Marine Safety Unit that help keep parks and trails safe for visitors.
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Share Your Love For Parks
Give the Gift of Membership
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Give friends and family the gift of membership to the Regional Parks this holiday season.
Membership includes free parking, free swimming, one annual dog pass for up to three dogs, camping discounts, and much more. The
Regional Parks Foundation
will prepare a
Gift of Membership
that can be mailed to you or directly to the gift recipient.
More info
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Saturday, November 9, 1:30-2pm,
Meet A Snake
, Black Diamond Mines
Saturday, November 23, 1:30-2pm,
Turkey Talk
, Ardenwood Historic Farm
*Registration required
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