EAST BAY REGIONAL PARK DISTRICT NEWS | |
|
Heading into Fall in the Park District
A MESSAGE FROM GENERAL MANAGER SABRINA LANDRETH
| |
October is often associated with a change of seasons and cooling temperatures, but it is important to remember that we are still in peak fire season. With dry conditions, gusty winds, and the persistent heat, we must all stay vigilant and remain aware of the current fire conditions and restrictions.
Across the Park District, this month is full of fun and educational activities, including both the Ardenwood Harvest Festival and the Sunol Heritage Festival. Please check out all of the activities highlighted below and remember to go to our website for the most up-to-date information.
No matter the time of year, safety is always paramount. Please remember to check the forecast before you head out to a park so you can be prepared and plan accordingly.
| Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month through Oct. 15 | Celebrating heritage rooted in all Latin American countries during Hispanic Heritage Month, which runs from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15. Share stories and contributions from both Hispanic and Latino Americans. More info. | Thank You for Another Successful Coastal Cleanup Day! | Thank you to everyone who participated at this year’s Coastal Cleanup Day on Sept. 21. The Park District held cleanups in seven parks, including bayside beaches, shoreline trails, and inland lakes. The event saw more than 1,600 people cleaning up the parks and over 8,000 lbs. of trash collected! The Park District is grateful to all the volunteers who came out to clean up and preserve East Bay shorelines and waterways during the 40th Annual California Coastal Cleanup Day. | Park District Awarded $2.77 Million Coastal Conservancy Grant | Last month, two major grants totaling $2.77 million were awarded to the Park District by the California State Coastal Conservancy. The District will receive a grant for nearly $2.1 million for the Wildfire Resilience Project, which includes fire fuels reduction efforts in multiple parks, and $700,000 for the Keller Beach Access Improvements Project at Miller/Knox Regional Shoreline. | Redwood Reveal Looks Back at 90 Years of East Bay Regional Parks | |
Park visitors celebrated the past 90 years of the East Bay Regional Park District on Saturday, Sept. 28 at historic Redwood Bowl Picnic Area in Roberts Regional Recreation Area – the same venue that hosted the District's opening ceremonies in 1936!
Set among coastal redwoods, visitors enjoyed live music, face painting, crafts and games, and a new historical photo exhibit.
The event also celebrated Director Dee Rosario, who will be retiring at the end of the year after eight years serving on the Park District Board of Directors following nearly four decades of service as a member of the East Bay Regional Park District staff.
| |
New Trail Open at the Regional Parks Botanic Garden | On Sept. 7, 2024, the Regional Parks Botanic Garden held a grand opening for its newest trail, designed and constructed by Park District Trails Program staff and volunteers. Spanning from the bottom of the canyon section to the rain forest section path below the Sequoia Building, it is the first major trail addition to the garden since the 1980s. This “missing link” trail offers a scenic route from high above Wildcat Creek down to where the creek exits the garden and features switchback rock stairs and newly cleared planting beds, enhancing the beauty and biodiversity of the rain forest section. More info. | Vollmer Trail Before and After Thinning Fuels | Tilden South Park Drive Fuels Project Completed | The East Bay Regional Park District Fire Department has successfully completed the CalRecycle-funded Tilden Park South Park Drive Fuels Project. This landmark project saw the removal and masticating (grinding up) of 555 dead trees across 27 acres, marking it as the Park District's first project approved under the California Vegetation Treatment Program (CalVTP), developed by the Board of Forestry and Fire Protection. The District's focus on thinning dead trees fosters a healthier and more resilient forest ecosystem, reduces wildfire risk, and enhances sustainability. | New Grant Secured for Annual Gathering of Ohlone Peoples | |
The Park District received a new $10,000 grant from the Zellerbach Family Foundation to support the recent Gathering of Ohlone Peoples event on Oct. 6. The Regional Parks Foundation facilitated the donation as part of its mission to "support the Park District through fundraising to provide universal access, environmental stewardship, educational and recreational programs, and the acquisition of parklands."
The Zellerbach Family Foundation’s Together In Community grant program support fairs, festivals, and other public gatherings and events that celebrate and uplift historically underserved communities, create opportunities to connect and share space, and articulate a meaningful cultural component and/or purposeful community engagement.
| Sunol Heritage Festival with Special 90th Anniversary Presentation: October 19 | Celebrate the diverse heritage of the wilderness at the Sunol Heritage Festival on Saturday, Oct. 19, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Enjoy a special 90th Anniversary presentation, live music, Ohlone storytelling, crafts, and traditions, and all kinds of old-timey ranch activities and games. Bring a picnic to enjoy in the park! This is a free event with $5 parking fee. More info. | Garin-to-Pleasanton Ridge Public Access Project Community Meeting November 21 (Zoom) | Members of the community are invited to a Zoom meeting on Thursday, Nov. 21, from 6:30 to 8 p.m. to learn about the Garin-to-Pleasanton Ridge Public Access Project. Project consultants will provide details on the preferred design option and show illustrations of design concepts. Please register in advance for the Zoom meeting. More info. | |
Cashless Fee Collection Pilot Starting at Roberts and Quarry Lakes | The Park District is implementing a cashless fee collection pilot program at Roberts Regional Recreation Area in Oakland and Quarry Lakes Regional Recreation Area in Fremont aimed at reducing visitor wait times and improving operational efficiency. The pilot, which began Oct. 7 at Roberts and Quarry Lakes, will only accept credit cards as payment for parking, dogs, fishing, and boating fees. The cashless pilot program runs through April 4, 2025. For questions or comments, please submit a Contact Us Form. | New Valle Vista Trail Opens at Pleasanton Ridge | A new trail is now open in Pleasanton Ridge Regional Park. Great views abound on the Valle Vista Trail, a one-mile long, two-direction, multi-use trail that starts up on the North Ridge Trail, meandering along grassy slopes and oak woodlands as it descends to meet the bottom of the Turtle Pond Trail and the rest of the valley beyond. Thanks to Santa Cruz Mountains Trail Stewardship for their partnership on this project. | |
Overlook Restaurant at Tilden Park Golf Course Now Open | A great new destination is now open in the East Bay hills! Newly renovated, the restaurant offers indoor seating with a fireplace and outdoor seating with a cozy fire pit. Stop by after your next hike or round of golf to sample their fresh, flavorful food in scenic splendor. | |
Shape the Future of Your Regional Parks Membership | Share your input and make your membership as valuable as possible. Take a short survey and let the Foundation team know how to improve the Regional Parks Foundation membership experience. It only takes a few minutes, and your responses are confidential. As a thank you, you’ll be entered for a chance to win one of two $250 REI gift cards! Take the survey. | |
International Day of Peace Event Brings Joy at Lake Chabot | Thank you to all the members of the community who attended the UN International Day of Peace event on Friday, Sept. 27 at Lake Chabot, celebrating the diversity of park visitors and unity. The Park District is committed to ensuring that Regional Parks are a safe and welcoming space for all to enjoy. All are welcome in East Bay Regional Parks. | |
Ardenwood Harvest Festival October 12-13 | |
Enjoy old-time country fun as you help harvest this year’s corn crop for Ardenwood programs and animals. Search the field for ears of flint corn or popcorn. Outside the field, enjoy seasonal activities, cider pressing, old-time music, and historic crafts. Ride a narrow-gauge train and learn what late-nineteenth century life was like on a tour of the beautifully restored farmhouse.
Harvest Festival Corn Picking Limit:
To ensure there is enough corn for all attendees there is a one-burlap-bag-per-person limit for corn picking.
Advance tickets are recommended and available for purchase online or by phone. Online ticket sales end on Friday, Oct. 11. Harvest Festival info.
| |
Hispanic Heritage Month Programs through Mid-October | |
Bilingual Mine Tours, Black Diamond Mines Regional Preserve
Black Diamond Mines is offering bilingual mine tours (in Spanish and English) on select dates during Hispanic Heritage Month. Tour fees apply, and online registration in advance is highly recommended. Final tours on Oct. 12.
Arte en el Parque, Del Valle Regional Park
Create your own works of art taking inspiration from artists like Frida Kahlo and Octavio Ocampo. Learn how these artists depicted nature and landscapes in their artwork. Drop-in; no registration required. Final program on Oct. 13.
More info on Hispanic Heritage Month.
| |
Connecting Parks to People | | | | |
