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Citizens for East Shore Parks (CESP)
Encyclopedia
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| Established | 1985 |
| Founders | Dwight E. Steele, Norman La Force, Sylvia McLaughlin |
| President | Robert C. Cheasty |
| Exec. Dir. | Patricia V. Jones |
| Membership | 3,000 |
| Non-profit type | 501(c)3 |
| Focus | Open space Open space reserve Open space reserve, open space preserve, and open space reservation, are planning and conservation ethics terms used to describe areas of protected or conserved land or water on which development is indefinitely set aside... preservation, Natural habitat restoration, Environmental justice Environmental justice Environmental justice is "the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless of race, color, sex, national origin, or income with respect to the development, implementation and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies." In the words of Bunyan Bryant,... |
| Area Served | East Bay (San Francisco Bay Area) East Bay (San Francisco Bay Area) The East Bay is a commonly used, informal term for the lands on the eastern side of the San Francisco Bay, in the San Francisco Bay Area, in California, United States... |
| Location | El Cerrito El Cerrito, Contra Costa County, California -Transportation:The city's primary transportation infrastructure consists of the El Cerrito Plaza and El Cerrito del Norte BART stations along with several local bus lines, operated by AC Transit, providing access to the surrounding area and the nearby cities of Albany, Berkeley and Richmond... , CA California California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area... , USA United States The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district... |
| Homepage | www.eastshorepark.org |
Citizens for East Shore Parks (CESP) is an American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
environmental organization
Environmental organization
An environmental organization is an organization that seeks to protect, analyze or monitor the environment against misuse or degradation or lobby for these goals....
that focuses on the acquisition and preservation of parkland in the San Francisco Bay Area
San Francisco Bay Area
The San Francisco Bay Area, commonly known as the Bay Area, is a populated region that surrounds the San Francisco and San Pablo estuaries in Northern California. The region encompasses metropolitan areas of San Francisco, Oakland, and San Jose, along with smaller urban and rural areas...
. CESP works to protect open space
Open space reserve
Open space reserve, open space preserve, and open space reservation, are planning and conservation ethics terms used to describe areas of protected or conserved land or water on which development is indefinitely set aside...
along the East Bay
East Bay (San Francisco Bay Area)
The East Bay is a commonly used, informal term for the lands on the eastern side of the San Francisco Bay, in the San Francisco Bay Area, in California, United States...
shoreline for natural habitat and recreational purposes through a combination of advocacy, education, and outreach. Since its founding in 1985, CESP has worked to secure approximately 1800 acres (728.4 ha) of public land, primarily through the creation of the 8.5 miles (13.7 km) long Eastshore State Park
Eastshore State Park
Eastshore State Park is a state park and wildlife refuge along the San Francisco Bay shoreline of the East Bay between the cities of Richmond, Albany, Berkeley, Emeryville, and Oakland. It encompasses remnant natural wetlands, restored wetlands as well as landfill west of the Eastshore Freeway. It...
in 2002.
Mission statement
The mission of Citizens for East Shore Parks (CESP) is to preserve and enhance the natural resources and recreational and educational opportunities of the east shore of San Francisco BaySan Francisco Bay
San Francisco Bay is a shallow, productive estuary through which water draining from approximately forty percent of California, flowing in the Sacramento and San Joaquin rivers from the Sierra Nevada mountains, enters the Pacific Ocean...
, creating a necklace of shoreline parks from the Oakland Estuary to the Carquinez Strait.
Organization
Tom Bates
Thomas H. Bates is an American politician and is currently serving as the Mayor of Berkeley, California. He previously served 20 years as a member of the California State Assembly before being termed out in 1996. Bates is married to Loni Hancock, a former mayor of Berkeley and State Assembly...
, Robert Cheasty, Shirley Dean
Shirley Dean
Shirley Ann Dean , considered moderate in Berkeley politics, is an American politician who served as the Mayor of Berkeley, California from 1994 to 2002...
, Whitney Dotson, Norman La Force, and Sylvia McLaughlin, among others. Most board members also sit on subcommittees addressing specific environmental or operational issues.
Although the scope of its work is large, CESP operates with a very small staff. There is one executive director who manages day-to-day affairs, as well as interns and volunteers.
List of Citizens for East Shore Parks Board Members
History
CESP was founded in 1985 to oppose Santa Fe Railroad’s proposals for large-scale development at the Berkeley and Albany waterfront. Historically, CESP grew from the wider movement among East Bay residents to protect San Francisco Bay and its shoreline from capricious and irresponsible development. A coalition of local environmentalists, public officials, and concerned individuals banded together to form Citizens for the Eastshore State Park, with the original goal of creating a state park that would permanently and strategically preserve the shoreline for public and recreational use.By 1990, Albany
Albany, California
Albany is a city in Alameda County, California, United States. The population was 18,539 at the 2010 census.-History:In 1908, a group of local women protested the dumping of Berkeley garbage in their community...
, Berkeley
Berkeley, California
Berkeley is a city on the east shore of the San Francisco Bay in Northern California, United States. Its neighbors to the south are the cities of Oakland and Emeryville. To the north is the city of Albany and the unincorporated community of Kensington...
, and Emeryville
Emeryville, California
Emeryville is a small city located in Alameda County, California, in the United States. It is located in a corridor between the cities of Berkeley and Oakland, extending to the shore of San Francisco Bay. Its proximity to San Francisco, the Bay Bridge, the University of California, Berkeley, and...
residents had overwhelmingly approved ballot measures to protect the remaining open space on the shoreline. With its plans stymied, Santa Fe Railroad became interested in selling the land. Citizens for the Eastshore State Park played an important role in the park planning process. CESP helped draft two successful bond measures that would eventually enable the California Department of State Parks and the East Bay Regional Park District to acquire the land and administer the park. Moreover, CESP served as a forum for diverse groups and individuals to agree on a common vision for the shoreline park, as well as an intermediary between the public and public officials.
Eastshore State Park
Eastshore State Park is a state park and wildlife refuge along the San Francisco Bay shoreline of the East Bay between the cities of Richmond, Albany, Berkeley, Emeryville, and Oakland. It encompasses remnant natural wetlands, restored wetlands as well as landfill west of the Eastshore Freeway. It...
general plan. The Eastshore State Park opened in 2006, almost forty years after the vision of a shoreline park was first articulated. The 8.5 miles (13.7 km) long park spans the Berkeley, Oakland
Oakland, California
Oakland is a major West Coast port city on San Francisco Bay in the U.S. state of California. It is the eighth-largest city in the state with a 2010 population of 390,724...
, Emeryville, Albany and Richmond
Richmond, California
Richmond is a city in western Contra Costa County, California, United States. The city was incorporated on August 7, 1905. It is located in the East Bay, part of the San Francisco Bay Area. It is a residential inner suburb of San Francisco, as well as the site of heavy industry, which has been...
waterfronts, and preserves more than 2000 acres (809.4 ha) of uplands and tidelands—also home to sixteen species of rare, threatened, or endangered wildlife.
In 2004, CESP changed its name from Citizens for the Eastshore State Park to Citizens for East Shore Parks in order to reflect its broader commitment to acquiring and preserving open space in the East Bay.
In 2006, CESP led a successful campaign to preserve the Albany shoreline from Magna Entertainment Corporation’s development efforts. The proposed shopping mall would have split the Eastshore State Park in two.
Leading up to it culmination in 2008, CESP joined with the local groups in Richmond to create a vision to protect the Richmond shoreline for open space, public access, habitat protection and recreation. CESP advocated for the direct acquisition of Breuner Marsh as part of the East Bay Regional Park system. As part of the North Richmond Shoreline Open Space Alliance, CESP urged the East bay Regional Park District to acquire the property. The East Bay Regional Park District (EBRPD) attempted to purchase the land from the landowner who instead announced intentions to build a development partly in the marsh, with the matter ending up in court finally and in 2008 the Court rule that the acquisition could go forward and put the price at $6.85 million. CESP and other environmental allies encouraged this acquisition to preserve and restore more than 200 acres (80.9 ha) of the North Richmond Shoreline.
CESP played a pivotal role in the successful creation of the Tom Bates Regional Sports Complex, opened in 2008. CESP brought its allies together to successfully fight for the creation of a regional sports complex at the shoreline as an adjunct to the Eastshore State Park. CESP (with allies Sierra Club, Golden Gate Audubon and others) persuaded the East Bay Regional Park District (EBRPD) of the advantages in buying a little-used 16 acres (6.5 ha) lot on the shoreline from Golden Gate Fields in the middle of the Eastshore State Park. CESP worked to set in motion a massive cooperative effort among the five cities along the Eastshore State Park and the EBRPD, along with the dedicated hard work of many ballfield user groups, to push the project forward and finally to see its opening for play in 2008. The complex was named after CESP Vice President and Mayor of Berkeley Tom Bates, in recognition of his decades of consistent work in helping to create the Eastshore State Park and for his stalwart leadership among the five cites and the EBRPD in bringing this complex to completion.
Current projects
CESP is currently focusing its efforts on two geographic areas: Eastshore State Park and Richmond.Eastshore State Park
CESP continues to support the development and operation of the Eastshore State Park, including habitat restoration and the creation of public amenities. One current project is construction of the long-overdue visitor’s center and park entrance at the proposed Brickyard site in Berkeley. Although a few issues (such as design and cost) remain unresolved, CESP has been working in conjunction with local and state park agencies to provide valued public input for the ongoing planning process.CESP is involved with various habitat restoration projects. The Eastshore State Park General Plan mentions enhancing and restoring a number of ecosystems and habitat types throughout the park. The Berkeley Meadow is currently undergoing a long-term restoration project that will restore seasonal wetlands and create coastal scrub and native grasslands. The City of Albany and East Bay Regional Park District
East Bay Regional Park District
The East Bay Regional Park District is a special district operating in Alameda County and Contra Costa County, California, within the East Bay area of the San Francisco Bay Area...
are undertaking a similar project at the Albany Plateau. Both projects will benefit threatened wildlife, such as the Northern Harrier, White-tailed Kite
White-tailed Kite
The White-tailed Kite is an elanid kite of genus Elanus found in western North America and parts of South America.Their coloration is gull-like, but their shape and flight falcon-like, with a rounded tail...
, and Western Burrowing Owl
Burrowing Owl
The Burrowing Owl is a tiny but long-legged owl found throughout open landscapes of North and South America. Burrowing Owls can be found in grasslands, rangelands, agricultural areas, deserts, or any other open dry area with low vegetation. They nest and roost in burrows, such as those excavated...
.
CESP is also staying abreast of developments in the Albany Waterfront Visioning Process. The Albany City Council is considering future alternative land uses for what is now the Golden Gate Fields
Golden Gate Fields
Golden Gate Fields is an American horse racing track straddling both Albany, California and Berkeley, California along the shoreline of San Francisco Bay adjacent to the Eastshore Freeway in the San Francisco Bay Area...
racetrack, which occupies much of the waterfront, in the event that the racetrack closes. CESP is working with local residents to adopt a plan that would environmentally restore the site and incorporate it into the Eastshore State Park, while also addressing the need for responsible development.
Richmond
General plan
A general plan is the policy of acceptable land uses in each jurisdiction. Each city and county adopts and updates their General Plan to guide the growth and land development of their community, for both the current period and the long term...
, which will determine land use options for the next 30 years. CESP is working to convince the City of Richmond to adopt a General Plan that secures and improves public access to Richmond’s 32 miles (51.5 km) of shoreline. CESP is also involved in a public outreach component designed to educate Richmond residents about the environmental, social, and economic benefits of public parks.
CESP’s vision for the Richmond shoreline consists of three parts. The first concerns the North Richmond Shoreline, which extends from Point Pinole to Wildcat Creek Marsh. Because of its rich ecological diversity and shoreline marshes, CESP calls for this part of the shoreline to be designated as parkland and open space, preventing any further development.
Another area of concern is Point San Pablo Peninsula
San Pablo Peninsula
-Overview:The peninsula runs between Castro Cove and Point San Pablo and is dominated by the steep ridges of the Potrero Hills an escarpment that runs along the entire peninsula. The peninsula is largely owned by ChevronTexaco and is used as a safety buffer for security purposes...
, which includes Point Molate. The developer Upstream currently has plans to build a large-scale Indian casino and resort on this historic part of the shoreline, with far-reaching implications. The city of Richmond is considering a fast-track handover of the site to the developers for clean-up. CESP supports the creation of parkland along this shoreline rather than a casino complex.
On the South Richmond Shoreline, CESP is mainly concerned with the status of the Zeneca
Zeneca
Zeneca Group PLC was a multinational pharmaceutical company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. Zeneca was formed in June 1993 by the demerger of the pharmaceuticals and agrochemicals businesses of Imperial Chemical Industries into a separate company listed on the London Stock Exchange.In 1999...
/Cherokee site and University of California
University of California
The University of California is a public university system in the U.S. state of California. Under the California Master Plan for Higher Education, the University of California is a part of the state's three-tier public higher education system, which also includes the California State University...
's Richmond Field Station. Zeneca is one of the most toxic superfund
Superfund
Superfund is the common name for the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 , a United States federal law designed to clean up sites contaminated with hazardous substances...
sites in California. Beyond the immediate goal of achieving a comprehensive clean-up and restoration of the site, CESP opposes Cherokee-Simeon Ventures’ housing development plans for such a site and wants to incorporate the shoreline into the adjacent Eastshore State Park after appropriate clean-up.
Publications
In 2007, Citizens for East Shore Parks published a brochure, Our Vision for the North Richmond Shoreline, to make the case for parks and open space in Richmond.In 2008, CESP began publishing a periodic newsletter entitled Shore Lines, focusing on developments in the Eastshore State Park and Richmond.
Partnerships
CESP has partnerships with more than a dozen local environmental organizations and foundations that share some of its basic objectives.Supporting organizations
- Golden Gate Audubon Society
- Sierra ClubSierra ClubThe Sierra Club is the oldest, largest, and most influential grassroots environmental organization in the United States. It was founded on May 28, 1892, in San Francisco, California, by the conservationist and preservationist John Muir, who became its first president...
- Save The Bay
- NRSOSA (North Richmond Shoreline Open Space Alliance)
- Oakland Waterfront Coalition
- Berkeley Partners for Parks
- California Native Plant SocietyCalifornia Native Plant SocietyThe California Native Plant Society is a California not-for-profit organization that seeks to increase understanding of California's native flora and to preserve that flora. Its "paramount purpose is to preserve wild plants".-History:...
- Environmental DefenseEnvironmental DefenseEnvironmental Defense Fund or EDF is a United States–based nonprofit environmental advocacy group. The group is known for its work on issues including global warming, ecosystem restoration, oceans, and human health...
- Citizens Committee to Complete the Refuge
- Friends of Aquatics Park
- Oceanic Society
- Regional Parks Association
- Urban Creeks CouncilUrban Creeks CouncilThe Urban Creeks Council is a Berkeley, California non-profit organization that promotes stewardship of San Francisco Bay creeks and habitat restoration around them...
- Contra Costa Hills Club
- California State Parks Foundation
- Citizens for the Albany Shoreline
- Ecology Center
Supporting foundations
- California State Parks Foundation
- Columbia Foundation
- Dean Witter Foundation
- East Bay Community Foundation
- Firedoll Foundation
- Gerbode Foundation
- Heller Fund
- Loveland Foundation
- Patagonia Tithing Fund
- Points of Light Foundation
- Recreational Equipment Inc.
- Richard and Rhoda Goldman Fund
- Rose Foundation
- San Francisco Foundation
- Strong Foundation
- True North Foundation
- Walter & Elise Haas Fund
- William and Flora Hewlett FoundationWilliam and Flora Hewlett FoundationThe William and Flora Hewlett Foundation is a private foundation, established by Hewlett-Packard cofounder William Reddington Hewlett and his wife Flora Lamson Hewlett in 1967. The Hewlett Foundation awards grants to support educational and cultural institutions and to advance certain social and...