East Bay Regional Park District
Encyclopedia
The East Bay Regional Park District (EBRPD) is a special district operating in Alameda County
and Contra Costa County, California
, within the East Bay area of the San Francisco Bay Area
. It maintains and operates a system of regional park
s which is the largest urban regional park district in the United States.
The EBRPD was founded in 1934, and acquired its first land two years later, when the East Bay Municipal Utility District
sold 2166 acres (876.5 ha) of its surplus land. Currently, in 2010, EBRPD spans more than 1000000 acres (404,686 ha) with 65 parks and over 1100 miles (1,770 km) of trails. Some of these parks are wilderness areas; others include a variety of visitor attractions, with opportunities for swimming, angling
, boating
and camping
. The 1100 miles (1,770 km) of trails are frequently used for biking, hiking
, and horse riding. In addition, nearly 150 miles (241 km) of paved trails through urban areas link these parks together. The founding fathers of the district were Robert Sibley, a hiking enthusiast, and Hollis Thompson, then Berkeley City Manager.
The parks administered by the EBRPD vary greatly in size and character. Particularly notable are the string of parks along the Berkeley Hills
above and east of both Berkeley
and Oakland
, including Wildcat Canyon Regional Park
, Tilden Regional Park
, Robert Sibley Volcanic Regional Preserve
, Huckleberry Botanic Regional Preserve
, and Redwood Regional Park
. Anthony Chabot Regional Park
is located in the San Leandro Hills
above Oakland and San Leandro
. There are also bay shore parks such as the Point Pinole Regional Shoreline
north of Richmond
, the Coyote Hills Regional Park
near Fremont
, the Martin Luther King Jr. Regional Shoreline on San Leandro Bay
, and the Oyster Bay Regional Shoreline south of the Oakland International Airport
. The district also includes a former farm, a former coal mine, an extinct volcano, and one of the biggest dog-walking parks in the country. Redwood Regional Park
contains the largest remaining natural stand of coast redwood in the East Bay.
The district usually limits mountain biking to fire roads, with very few exceptions. The district also maintains a police and fire department to provide public safety services on its parks.
The work of the EBRPD is supported by a voluntary body, the Regional Parks Foundation, which raises funds for the improvement of the parks. The Regional Parks Association is a local, independent environmental organization whose focus overlaps the EBRPD bailiwick. The EBRPD is a member of the Bay Area Open Space Council
.
Alameda County, California
Alameda County is a county in the U.S. state of California. It occupies most of the East Bay region of the San Francisco Bay Area. As of the 2010 census it had a population of 1,510,271, making it the 7th most populous county in the state...
and Contra Costa County, California
Contra Costa County, California
Contra Costa County is a primarily suburban county in the San Francisco Bay Area of the U.S. state of California. As of the 2010 census, it had a population of 1,049,025...
, within the East Bay area of 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...
. It maintains and operates a system of regional park
Regional park
Regional park is a term used for an area of land preserved on account of its natural beauty, historic interest, recreational use or other reason, and under the administration of a form of local government.-Definition:...
s which is the largest urban regional park district in the United States.
The EBRPD was founded in 1934, and acquired its first land two years later, when the East Bay Municipal Utility District
East Bay Municipal Utility District
East Bay Municipal Utility District , colloquially referred to as "East Bay Mud", provides water and sewage treatment for customers in portions of Alameda County and Contra Costa County in California, on the eastern side of San Francisco Bay, including the cities of Richmond, El Cerrito, Hercules,...
sold 2166 acres (876.5 ha) of its surplus land. Currently, in 2010, EBRPD spans more than 1000000 acres (404,686 ha) with 65 parks and over 1100 miles (1,770 km) of trails. Some of these parks are wilderness areas; others include a variety of visitor attractions, with opportunities for swimming, angling
Angling
Angling is a method of fishing by means of an "angle" . The hook is usually attached to a fishing line and the line is often attached to a fishing rod. Fishing rods are usually fitted with a fishing reel that functions as a mechanism for storing, retrieving and paying out the line. The hook itself...
, boating
Boating
Boating is the leisurely activity of travelling by boat, or the recreational use of a boat whether powerboats, sailboats, or man-powered vessels , focused on the travel itself, as well as sports activities, such as fishing or water skiing...
and camping
Camping
Camping is an outdoor recreational activity. The participants leave urban areas, their home region, or civilization and enjoy nature while spending one or several nights outdoors, usually at a campsite. Camping may involve the use of a tent, caravan, motorhome, cabin, a primitive structure, or no...
. The 1100 miles (1,770 km) of trails are frequently used for biking, hiking
Hiking
Hiking is an outdoor activity which consists of walking in natural environments, often in mountainous or other scenic terrain. People often hike on hiking trails. It is such a popular activity that there are numerous hiking organizations worldwide. The health benefits of different types of hiking...
, and horse riding. In addition, nearly 150 miles (241 km) of paved trails through urban areas link these parks together. The founding fathers of the district were Robert Sibley, a hiking enthusiast, and Hollis Thompson, then Berkeley City Manager.
The parks administered by the EBRPD vary greatly in size and character. Particularly notable are the string of parks along the Berkeley Hills
Berkeley Hills
The Berkeley Hills are a range of the Pacific Coast Ranges that overlook the northeast side of the valley that surrounds San Francisco Bay. They were previously called the "Contra Costa Range/Hills" , but with the establishment of Berkeley and the University of California, the current usage was...
above and east of both 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 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...
, including Wildcat Canyon Regional Park
Wildcat Canyon Regional Park
Wildcat Canyon Regional Park is a East Bay Regional Parks District park located within the city limits of Richmond in Contra Costa County in the San Francisco Bay Area of California...
, Tilden Regional Park
Tilden Regional Park
Tilden Regional Park, also known as "Tilden" , is a regional park in the East Bay, part of the San Francisco Bay Area in California. It is situated between the Berkeley Hills and San Pablo Ridge....
, Robert Sibley Volcanic Regional Preserve
Robert Sibley Volcanic Regional Preserve
Robert Sibley Volcanic Regional Preserve is located in the Berkeley Hills just east of Oakland, California, USA. Though it can only be entered via Oakland, it actually lies almost entirely within Contra Costa County....
, Huckleberry Botanic Regional Preserve
Huckleberry Botanic Regional Preserve
Huckleberry Botanic Regional Preserve is a regional park and nature reserve in the eastern San Francisco Bay Area, in Alameda and Contra Costa Counties, Northern California. It is a park within the East Bay Regional Parks District system...
, and Redwood Regional Park
Redwood Regional Park
Redwood Regional Park is a park of the East Bay Regional Parks District in the San Francisco Bay Area. It is located in the hills east of Oakland. The park contains the largest remaining natural stand of coast redwood found in the East Bay. Redwood forests are more commonly found closer to the...
. Anthony Chabot Regional Park
Anthony Chabot Regional Park
Anthony Chabot Regional Park is a regional park on in the San Leandro Hills adjacent to Oakland, San Leandro and Castro Valley.The park is adjacent to Lake Chabot Regional Park and also to EBMUD's Upper San Leandro Reservoir. It houses a golfing club and a marksmanship club...
is located in the San Leandro Hills
San Leandro Hills
The San Leandro Hills are a range of the Pacific Coast Ranges located on the eastern side of the valley which includes San Francisco Bay. They run along the southeastern city limits of Oakland, extending southeastward above the city of San Leandro and the unincorporated community of Castro Valley....
above Oakland and San Leandro
San Leandro, California
San Leandro is a city in Alameda County, California, United States. It is considered a suburb of Oakland and San Francisco. The population was 84,950 as of 2010 census. The climate of the city is mild throughout the year.-Geography and water resources:...
. There are also bay shore parks such as the Point Pinole Regional Shoreline
Point Pinole Regional Shoreline
The Point Pinole Regional Shoreline is a regional park on the shores of the San Pablo Bay, California . It is approximately in area, and is operated by the East Bay Regional Park District.-History:...
north of 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...
, the Coyote Hills Regional Park
Coyote Hills Regional Park
Coyote Hills Regional Park is a regional park encompassing nearly 978 acres of land and administered by the East Bay Regional Park District. The park, which was dedicated to public use in 1967, is located in Fremont, California, on the southeast shore of the San Francisco Bay...
near Fremont
Fremont, California
Fremont is a city in Alameda County, California. It was incorporated on January 23, 1956, from the merger of five smaller communities: Centerville, Niles, Irvington, Mission San Jose, and Warm Springs...
, the Martin Luther King Jr. Regional Shoreline on San Leandro Bay
San Leandro Bay
San Leandro Bay is a body of water in the San Francisco Bay. It is connected to the Oakland Estuary today, but was originally separated by land which formerly connected Alameda with Oakland. It is located along the east of the Oakland International Airport and Bay Farm Island. The principal...
, and the Oyster Bay Regional Shoreline south of the Oakland International Airport
Oakland International Airport
Oakland International Airport , also known as Metropolitan Oakland International Airport, is a public airport located south of the central business district of Oakland, a city in Alameda County, California, United States...
. The district also includes a former farm, a former coal mine, an extinct volcano, and one of the biggest dog-walking parks in the country. Redwood Regional Park
Redwood Regional Park
Redwood Regional Park is a park of the East Bay Regional Parks District in the San Francisco Bay Area. It is located in the hills east of Oakland. The park contains the largest remaining natural stand of coast redwood found in the East Bay. Redwood forests are more commonly found closer to the...
contains the largest remaining natural stand of coast redwood in the East Bay.
The district usually limits mountain biking to fire roads, with very few exceptions. The district also maintains a police and fire department to provide public safety services on its parks.
The work of the EBRPD is supported by a voluntary body, the Regional Parks Foundation, which raises funds for the improvement of the parks. The Regional Parks Association is a local, independent environmental organization whose focus overlaps the EBRPD bailiwick. The EBRPD is a member of the Bay Area Open Space Council
Bay Area Open Space Council
The is a collaborative of member organizations actively involved in permanently protecting and stewarding important parks, trails and agricultural lands in the ten-county San Francisco Bay Area...
.
District parks
- Anthony Chabot Regional ParkAnthony Chabot Regional ParkAnthony Chabot Regional Park is a regional park on in the San Leandro Hills adjacent to Oakland, San Leandro and Castro Valley.The park is adjacent to Lake Chabot Regional Park and also to EBMUD's Upper San Leandro Reservoir. It houses a golfing club and a marksmanship club...
- Antioch/Oakley Regional ShorelineAntioch/Oakley Regional ShorelineAntioch/Oakley Regional Shoreline is a regional park that is part of the East Bay Regional Parks system. It is located in Antioch, CA-External links:*...
- Ardenwood Historic FarmArdenwood Historic FarmArdenwood Historic Farm is a Regional Historic Landmark in Fremont, California.-Description:Officially opened to the public on July 28, 1985, the entire park includes a farm, a large forest and a mansion now called the Patterson House which was first constructed in 1857 by the farm's original...
- Bishop Ranch Regional PreserveBishop Ranch Regional PreserveBishop Ranch Regional Preserve is a regional park on a ridge top at the edge of San Ramon, CA. Trails are steep and there are no facilities other than a trailhead. It is part of the East Bay Regional Parks system.-External links:*...
- Black Diamond Mines Regional PreserveBlack Diamond Mines Regional PreserveThe Black Diamond Mines Regional Preserve is a 6,000-acre park located north of Mount Diablo in Contra Costa County, California under the administration of the East Bay Regional Park District. The 60 miles of trails in the Preserve cross rolling foothill terrain covered with grassland, California...
- Briones Regional ParkBriones Regional ParkBriones Regional Park is a park maintained and operated by the East Bay Regional Park District in the U.S. state of California. The park is located in the rolling, grassy hills between the eastern and western regions of Contra Costa County near Lafayette, Orinda, Pleasant Hill and Martinez...
- Brooks Island
- Browns IslandBrowns Island (California)Browns Island is a in the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta in Contra Costa County, California separated by New York Slough from Pittsburg. The East Bay Regional Park District island is bounded by Middle Slough on the east, New York Slough on the south, and Suisun Bay on the west and...
- Brushy Peak Regional PreserveBrushy Peak Regional PreserveBrushy Peak Regional Preserve is a regional park that is part of the East Bay Regional Parks and the Livermore Area Recreation and Park District systems. It is located in unincorporated land just north of Livermore, California.- External links :...
- Carquinez Strait Regional ShorelineCarquinez Strait Regional ShorelineCarquinez Strait Regional Shoreline is a regional park that is part of the East Bay Regional Parks system. It is located on the shores of the San Pablo Bay and stretches east from the city of Crockett, CA on the west through Port Costa, CA to Martinez, CA...
- Claremont Canyon Regional PreserveClaremont Canyon Regional PreserveClaremont Canyon Regional Preserve is a small regional park mainly located in the city of Oakland, California, and administered by the East Bay Regional Park District. The park is named for the canyon in which it's situated, Claremont Canyon, out of which Claremont Creek flows on its way to its...
- Contra Loma Regional ParkContra Loma Regional ParkContra Loma Regional Park is a regional park in Contra Costa County, California. It is part of the East Bay Regional Parks system. It is located in the city of Antioch and includes an reservoir....
- Coyote Hills Regional ParkCoyote Hills Regional ParkCoyote Hills Regional Park is a regional park encompassing nearly 978 acres of land and administered by the East Bay Regional Park District. The park, which was dedicated to public use in 1967, is located in Fremont, California, on the southeast shore of the San Francisco Bay...
- Crockett Hills
- Crown Memorial State BeachCrown Memorial State BeachCrown Memorial State Beach is a state park in the city of Alameda, CA on the shores of the San Francisco Bay. It is operated by the East Bay Regional Parks District....
(California state park operated by EBRPD) - Cull Canyon Regional Recreation AreaCull Canyon Regional Recreation AreaCull Canyon Regional Recreation Area is a regional park located in Castro Valley, CA that is part of the East Bay Regional Parks system.-External links:*...
- Del Valle Regional ParkDel Valle Regional ParkDel Valle Regional Park is a park of the East Bay Regional Park District in unincorporated Alameda County, California, south of the city of Livermore. The park is 4,316 acres big....
- Diablo Foothills Regional ParkDiablo Foothills Regional ParkDiablo Foothills Regional Park is a regional park located in Walnut Creek, CA that is part of the East Bay Regional Parks system.-External links:*...
- Don Castro Regional Recreation AreaDon Castro Regional Recreation AreaDon Castro Regional Recreation Area is a regional park located in Hayward, California. It is part of the East Bay Regional Parks system.-External links:*...
- Dry Creek Pioneer Regional ParkDry Creek Pioneer Regional ParkDry Creek Pioneer Regional Park is a regional park located in Hayward, California, sharing a contiguous border with sister park Garin Regional Park. It is part of the East Bay Regional Parks system.-External links:*...
- Eastshore State ParkEastshore State ParkEastshore 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...
(California state park operated by EBRPD) - Five Canyons
- Garin Regional ParkGarin Regional ParkGarin Regional Park is a regional park located in Hayward, California, that is part of the East Bay Regional Parks system. It shares a contiguous border with sister park Dry Creek Pioneer Regional Park...
- Hayward Regional ShorelineHayward Regional ShorelineHayward Regional Shoreline is a regional park located on the shores of the San Francisco Bay in Hayward, California. It is part of the East Bay Regional Parks system. The park extends to the shores of San Lorenzo. Part of the park is former commercial salt flats purchased in 1996. A former...
- Huckleberry Botanic Regional PreserveHuckleberry Botanic Regional PreserveHuckleberry Botanic Regional Preserve is a regional park and nature reserve in the eastern San Francisco Bay Area, in Alameda and Contra Costa Counties, Northern California. It is a park within the East Bay Regional Parks District system...
- Kennedy Grove Regional Recreation AreaKennedy Grove Regional Recreation AreaKennedy Grove Regional Recreation Area is an East Bay Regional Parks facility located at the foot of the San Pablo Dam in Richmond, California. This park, opened in 1967, is named after the late U.S. President John F. Kennedy...
- Lake Chabot Regional ParkLake Chabot Regional ParkLake Chabot Regional Park is a regional park located in Alameda County, CA that is part of the East Bay Regional Parks system. The northern part of the lake and park lie within the boundary of the city of Oakland, CA, while the southern part lies in an unicoproarted area of Alameda County adjacent...
- Las Trampas Regional WildernessLas Trampas Regional WildernessLas Trampas Regional Wilderness is a regional park located in Alameda and Contra Costa counties in Northern California. It is part of the East Bay Regional Park District. It consists of two long, hilly ridges flanking a narrow valley which contains a horse stable and visitor parking. Some of the...
- Leona Canyon Regional Open Space PreserveLeona Canyon Regional Open Space PreserveLeona Canyon Regional Open Space Preserve is a regional park located in Oakland, CA that is part of the East Bay Regional Parks system. It is located off of Keller Avenue near Oak Knoll Naval Hospital and it extends to Merritt College.-External links:*...
- Little Hills
- Martinez Regional ShorelineMartinez Regional ShorelineMartinez Regional Shoreline is a regional park located on the shores of the Carquinez Strait in Martinez, CA that is part of the East Bay Regional Parks system.-External links:*...
- Martin Luther King Jr. ShorelineMartin Luther King Jr. ShorelineMartin Luther King Jr. Shoreline is a regional park located on the shores of the San Leandro Bay in Oakland, CA that is part of the East Bay Regional Parks system.- External links :...
- Middle Harbor Shoreline ParkMiddle Harbor Shoreline ParkMiddle Harbor Shoreline Park lies west of downtown Oakland, California mostly on land formerly occupied by the Oakland Naval Supply Depot. The portion adjacent to the Port of Oakland which includes Port View Park was originally part of the Oakland Pier or Mole, the massive western terminus of the...
- Miller/Knox Regional ShorelineMiller/Knox Regional ShorelineMiller/Knox Regional Shoreline is a park in the Point Richmond neighborhood of Richmond, California. It offers panoramic views of the Bay Area especially San Francisco and the North Bay mountains, especially from its high point, Nicholls Knob. The park includes Keller Beach on San Pablo Bay and a...
- Mission Peak Regional Preserve
- Morgan Territory Regional PreserveMorgan Territory Regional PreserveMorgan Territory Regional Preserve is a regional park located north of Livermore, California, bordering on Mt. Diablo State Park, that is part of the East Bay Regional Park District. The main access road runs from Livermore.-External links:...
- Ohlone WildernessOhlone WildernessOhlone Wilderness is a large regional park in the United States that is part of the East Bay Regional Parks system. It is located in southern Alameda County, near the cities of Fremont, CA and Sunol, CA. It is located between Mission Peak and Sunol Regional Wilderness .-External links:* -- at...
- Oyster Bay Regional Shoreline
- Pleasanton RidgePleasanton RidgePleasanton Ridge Regional Park is a park in the East Bay Regional Park District overlooking Pleasanton, California and the Livermore Valley to the east. The park is scheduled to grow by almost with the acquisition of the Tyler Ranch....
- Point Isabel Regional ShorelinePoint Isabel Regional ShorelinePoint Isabel Regional Shoreline in Richmond, California, operated by East Bay Regional Park District, is an award-winning park offering activities for humans as well as dogs. It also features a concession offering food for humans and grooming for pets. It has easy access for pedestrians, public...
- Point Pinole Regional ShorelinePoint Pinole Regional ShorelineThe Point Pinole Regional Shoreline is a regional park on the shores of the San Pablo Bay, California . It is approximately in area, and is operated by the East Bay Regional Park District.-History:...
- Quarry Lakes Regional Recreation AreaQuarry Lakes Regional Recreation AreaQuarry Lakes Regional Recreation Area is a regional park located in Fremont, CA that is part of the East Bay Regional Parks system.-External links:*...
- Redwood Regional ParkRedwood Regional ParkRedwood Regional Park is a park of the East Bay Regional Parks District in the San Francisco Bay Area. It is located in the hills east of Oakland. The park contains the largest remaining natural stand of coast redwood found in the East Bay. Redwood forests are more commonly found closer to the...
- Ridgelands Regional ParkRidgelands Regional ParkRidgelands Regional Park is a future regional park to be developed in Pleasanton, CA by the East Bay Regional Park District. The concept is expected to be developed over many years; the core has already been put in place as the Pleasanton Ridge Regional Park, a park west of Pleasanton and north...
(in development) - Robert Sibley Volcanic Regional PreserveRobert Sibley Volcanic Regional PreserveRobert Sibley Volcanic Regional Preserve is located in the Berkeley Hills just east of Oakland, California, USA. Though it can only be entered via Oakland, it actually lies almost entirely within Contra Costa County....
- Roberts Regional Recreation AreaRoberts Regional Recreation AreaRoberts Regional Recreation Area is a regional park located in Oakland, CA that is part of the East Bay Regional Parks system.-External links:*...
- Round Valley Regional PreserveRound Valley Regional PreserveRound Valley Regional Preserve is a regional park just outside of Antioch, CA and Brentwood, CA that is part of the East Bay Regional Parks system.-External links:*...
- Shadow Cliffs Regional ParkShadow Cliffs Regional ParkShadow Cliffs Regional Park is a regional park in Livermore, Californiathat is part of the East Bay Regional Parks system on Stanley Blvd. The lake was once a gravel pit, but now includes a sandy beach with swimming, waterslides, and it supports fishing and recreational boating. The park is also a...
- Sobrante Ridge Botanic Regional PreserveSobrante Ridge Botanic Regional PreserveSobrante Ridge Botanic Regional Preserve is a regional park near El Sobrante, CA that is part of the East Bay Regional Parks system.-External links:...
- Sunol Regional WildernessSunol Regional WildernessThe Sunol Regional Wilderness is a regional park in Alameda County, California, United States that is administered by the East Bay Regional Park District. It is located south of the town of Pleasanton and east of Fremont, near the town of Sunol....
- Sycamore Valley Regional Open Space PreserveSycamore Valley Regional Open Space PreserveSycamore Valley Regional Open Space Preserve is a regional park in Danville, California, United States that is part of the East Bay Regional Parks system.-External links:...
- Temescal Regional ParkTemescal Regional ParkTemescal Regional Park formerly Lake Temescal Regional Park is an East Bay Regional Park District regional park in Oakland, California.The park has Lake Temescal as its main attraction in addition to trails, picnic sites, forest, and wildlife....
- Tilden Regional ParkTilden Regional ParkTilden Regional Park, also known as "Tilden" , is a regional park in the East Bay, part of the San Francisco Bay Area in California. It is situated between the Berkeley Hills and San Pablo Ridge....
- Vargas Plateau
- Vasco Caves
- Waterbird Regional PreserveWaterbird Regional PreserveWaterbird Regional Preserve is a regional park located in Martinez, CA that is part of the East Bay Regional Parks system.-External links:...
- Wildcat Canyon Regional ParkWildcat Canyon Regional ParkWildcat Canyon Regional Park is a East Bay Regional Parks District park located within the city limits of Richmond in Contra Costa County in the San Francisco Bay Area of California...
District Trails
- Alameda Creek Regional Trail
- Briones to Mt. Diablo Regional Trail
- California Riding and Hiking Trail
- Contra Costa Canal Regional Trail
- Delta de Anza Regional Trail
- Iron Horse Regional TrailIron Horse Regional TrailThe Iron Horse Regional Trail is a pedestrian and bicycle rail trail in the East San Francisco Bay Area in California.This trail is located in inland central Alameda and Contra Costa counties, mostly following a Southern Pacific Railroad right of way established in 1891 and abandoned in 1977...
- Lafayette-Moraga Regional Trail
- Marsh Creek Trail