Additionally, park picnic areas are closed, and all group gatherings prohibited.

By Dave Mason, Public Information Supervisor, East Bay Regional Park District

The COVID-19 health emergency remains a serious and evolving situation. This past weekend, the Park District saw more people in parks than on a busy holiday. “We can’t bend the curve if everyone is out. I don’t want to close big, beautiful open spaces. But we can’t see what we saw over the weekend,” California Governor Gavin Newsom said Monday. On Monday, March 23, 2020, Governor Newsom ordered temporary closures for vehicular traffic at State parks in five California counties: Los Angeles County, Marin County, San Mateo County, Sonoma County, and San Diego County.

Unsafe overcrowding is a concern. While the Park District hopes to keep parks and trails open, some closures are necessary to limit overcrowding and maintain social distancing. The list below of parks, developed park areas, parking lots, and entrance points will be closed beginning Friday, March 27, 2020, through Thursday, April 30, 2020. Trails will remain accessible on a walk-in, bike-in basis.

“We are all in this together,” said Park District General Manager Robert Doyle. “We want to help everyone during this crisis by keeping parks open, but safety of the public and our employees is our top priority.”

“If parks are too crowded, please help us keep people safe by going home,” added Doyle.

Ways the public can help keep parks open include:

• Maintain a 6-foot distance from other people
• No picnicking, groups, gatherings, or meetups (only immediate households should be together)
• Pack-in, pack-out trash, including dog poop (there is limited trash collection during COVID-19)

Park visitation and park use will continue to be monitored closely, with additional closures possible. Currently, state and county health departments have told us they want East Bay Regional Parks to remain open and accessible for outdoor activity if possible. However, it may also be necessary to close more park areas based on overcrowding or additional orders from State or local health agencies.

We thank the public for their cooperation and understanding during the COVID-19 public health emergency. Keeping parks open for the public is challenging with limited staffing and the Park District is doing its best to balance the requirements of State and local health agencies’ “Shelter in Place” orders, and the community’s need for exercise and stress relief.

The public is encouraged to check ebparks.org for up-to-date information on closures.

COVID-19 CLOSURES THROUGH THURSDAY, APRIL 30, 2020:

(All picnic areas, restrooms, water fountains, swim facilities/areas, playgrounds, campgrounds, group campsites, backcountry campsites, sports fields, kiosks, and reservable facilities are closed.)

NEW CLOSURES BEGINNING FRIDAY, MARCH 27:

• Black Diamond – Upper Parking Lot Closed (Parking available at Sidney Flat)
• Castle Rock Recreation Area Closed
• Contra Loma Closed (Trails Open from Frederickson Lane)
• Crown Beach – Otis Parking Lot Closed (Walk-In Access Only)
• Del Valle Closed (Trail Access from Arroyo Staging Area Only)
• Diablo Foothills (Limited Parking for Trail Access)
• Garin/Dry Creek – Meyer’s Garden Closed
• Point Isabel – Main Parking Area Closed (Walk-In Access Only
• Reinhardt Redwood Regional Park – Redwood Road Gate Closed
• Piedmont Stables (Boarders Allowed to Care for Horses)
• Roberts Regional Recreation Main Park Area Closed (Walk-In Access Only)
• Shadow Cliffs Closed (Walk-In Access Only)
• Sibley Volcanic Regional Preserve – Tunnel Road Entrance Closed (All Other Access Points Open)
• Sunol Regional Wilderness Closed
• Tilden Botanic Garden – Garden Closed

PREVIOUS CLOSURES (STILL IN EFFECT):

Anthony Chabot Closures

• Marciel Gate
• Chabot Equestrian Center Parking Lot (Boarders Allowed for Care for Horses)
• Skyline Stables (Boarders Allowed for Care for Horses)

Ardenwood Closures

• Ardenwood Closed

Bay Point Shoreline Closures

• Closed Due to Construction

Big Break Closures

• Big Break Visitor Center

Black Diamond Closures

• Mine Closed
• Sidney Flats Visitor Center
• Greathouse Visitor Center

Briones Closures

• Bear Creek Staging Area

Regional Trails Closures

• Lafayette-Moraga Old Moraga Ranch Trail (Closed due to Landslide)

Coyote Hills Closures

• Main Parking Lots
• Coyote Hills Visitor Center

Crown Beach Closures

• McKay Parking Lot (Walk-In Access Only)
• Crab Cove Visitor Center

Del Valle Closures

• Del Valle Visitor Center

Garin/Dry Creek/Pioneer Closures

• Visitor Center
• Apple Orchard

Lake Chabot Closures

• Boat Ramp (No Boating/No Quagga Inspection)

Lake Temescal Closures

• South Parking Lot

Leona Canyon Closures

• Main Staging Area

MLK Shoreline Closures

• Tidewater Staging Area
• Tidewater Outdoor Recreation Office
• Tidewater Oakland Strokes Operations

Quarry Lakes Closures

• Boat Ramp (No Boating/No Quagga Inspection)

Sunol Closures

• Sunol Visitor Center

Tidewater Closures (See MLK Shoreline)

• All Areas Closed

Tilden Closures

• All Picnic Areas Along Lake Anza and Brook roads
• Fern Picnic Area Parking
• Indian Camp Parking Lot, Playground, and Picnic Area
• Lone Oak Parking Area
• Lakeview Parking Lot
• Mineral Springs Parking Lot – No Trails
• Lake Anza Road and Parking Area
• Tilden Golf Course
• Golf Course Gated Lot (Bottom Half)
• Steam Trains/Golden Gate Live Steamers
• Merry-Go-Round
• Native Here Nursery
• South Park Drive (Continued Newt Closure Past April 1)

Tilden Botanic Garden Closures

• Botanic Garden Visitor Center

Tilden Nature Area Closures

• Tilden Nature Area Closed (Walk-In Access Only)
• Tilden Little Farm
• Environmental Education Center
• Indian Camp Parking Lot

Wildcat Canyon Closures

• Walk-In Entrance Trail into the Alvarado Picnic Area

The East Bay Regional Park District is the largest regional park system in the nation, comprising 73 parks, 55 miles of shoreline, and over 1,300 miles of trails for hiking, biking, horseback riding, and environmental education. The Park District receives more than 25 million visits annually throughout Alameda and Contra Costa counties in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Issued 3/17/2020

By Dave Mason, East Bay Regional Park District

A “Shelter in Place” order has been issued through Tuesday, April 7, 2020 for six Bay Area counties – San Francisco, Santa Clara, San Mateo, Marin, Contra Costa, and Alameda – prohibiting non-essential business and directing residents to stay inside their homes and away from others as much as possible.

Based on the “Shelter in Place” order, and by an emergency order of East Bay Regional Park District General Manager, for the health and safety of the public and our employees, Park District environmental education centers, visitor centers, and many of our developed public facilities, including bathrooms, water fountains, and other amenities, are temporarily closed. All Regional Trails are open. Per the “Shelter in Place” order, outdoor activity is allowed, such as walking, hiking, and running – as long as specific social distancing requirements are followed. Studies show outdoor activity benefits physical health and helps reduce stress and anxiety.

The COVID-19 health emergency is an unprecedented and evolving situation. Please be aware, additional precautions and closures may be necessary.

If you do visit a trail in a Regional Park, please follow all Social Distancing Requirements and bring water and hand sanitizer. Due to minimal staffing, bathrooms and water fountains will not be available. Additionally, please do not congregate in parking lots or at trailheads per the “Shelter in Place” social distancing requirements.

“Shelter in Place” Order Social Distancing Requirements:

• Maintain at least six-foot social distancing from other individuals
• Wash hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds as frequently as possible, or use hand sanitizer
• Cover coughs or sneezes (into the sleeve or elbow, not hands)
• Regularly clean high-touch surfaces
• Not shaking hands

We understand the closure of building facilities and amenities may be challenging. Together we can get through this difficult period and ask our visitors to follow all guidelines. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.

The health and safety of our employees and the public is our top priority. Temporary closure of some Regional Parks was necessary on Monday, March 16, due to limited staffing and to address “Shelter in Place” order needs.

Please see the FAQ below to answer your most immediate questions.

Can I visit Regional Parks?

Yes, however, only trails will be open for use. All building facilities will be closed, including bathrooms, water fountains, and other amenities. Visitors must follow “Shelter in Place” order social distancing requirements (see above).

What building facilities and amenities are closed?

Building Facilities: Bathrooms, Water Fountains, Visitor Centers and Facilities, Indoor Rental Facilities, Campgrounds, and Swim Facilities.

Visitors Centers/Facilities: Ardenwood Historic Farm (Fremont), Big Break Visitor Center (Oakley), Black Diamond Mines Visitor Center (Antioch), Coyote Hills Visitor Center (Fremont), Crown Beach Crab Cove Visitor Center (Alameda), Garin Barn (Hayward), Sunol Visitor Center (Sunol), Tilden Botanic Garden (Berkeley), Tilden Environmental Education Center (Berkeley), Little Farm (Berkeley).

All Indoor Rental Facilities: Brazilian Room at Tilden Park (Berkeley), Shoreline Room at Martin Luther King Jr. Shoreline (Oakland), Fern Cottage at Kennedy Grove (El Sobrante), Beach House at Lake Temescal (Oakland).

All Campgrounds: Anthony Chabot and Del Valle

All Swim Facilities: Contra Loma, Cull Canyon, Don Castro, Castle Rock, Lake Anza at Tilden, Lake Temescal, Shadow Cliffs, Robert’s Regional Park, Quarry Lakes

What can I expect when visiting a Regional Park during the “Shelter in Place” Order?
Visitors can expect buildings, bathrooms, and water fountains to be closed. There will also be no trash collection, so we are asking all visitors to pack out all trash they bring into Regional Parks (Pack it in, Pack it out). Visitors may also see fewer Park District staff in parks. The Park District will be at minimally required staffing levels while the “Shelter in Place” order is in effect.

What parks are affected?

All Regional Parks are affected by the closure of building facilities and amenities. Trails remain open in the following parks.

Anthony Chabot Antioch/Oakley Bay Point Big Break Bishop Ranch Black Diamond Mines Briones Brushy Peak Camp Arroyo Carquinez Strait Castle Rock Claremont Canyon Contra Loma Coyote Hills Crockett Hills Crown Beach Cull Canyon Del Valle Diablo Foothills Don Castro Dry Creek Pioneer Dublin Hills Five Canyons Garin Hayward Regional Shoreline Huckleberry Botanic Kennedy Grove Lake Chabot Las Trampas

Leona Canyon Little Hills Martin Luther King Jr. McLaughlin Eastshore Miller/Knox Mission Peak Morgan Territory Ohlone Oyster Bay Pleasanton Ridge Point Isabel Point Pinole Quarry Lakes Radke Martinez Reinhardt Redwood Roberts Round Valley San Pablo Bay Shadow Cliffs Sibley Sobrante Ridge Sunol Sycamore Valley Temescal Tilden Vargas Plateau Waterbird Wildcat Canyon

 

 

 

Out of an abundance of caution and in continued response to the COVID-19 virus, the East Bay Regional Park District is canceling all programs and closing all Visitor Centers, rental facilities, campgrounds and swim facilities through April 12,2020.

Currently, all regional parks and trails (except those listed below) remain open to the public. We understand that nature is a great place to get exercise and rejuvenate the mind, body and soul – especially in time of crisis. A walk on a trail, around your neighborhood or private backyard will allow you to breathe fresh air and help to reduce stress and anxiety

Public and employee safety is a priority to us! Out of an abundance of caution in continued response to the COVID-19 virus planning, East Bay Regional Park District is implementing facility closures to protect the public and our employees to reduce the potential for exposure to COVID-19.

Effective at 5 pm Sunday, March 15, Park District facilities that WILL BE CLOSED UNTIL APRIL 12, 2020 are:

All Visitor Centers

Ardenwood Historic Farm (Fremont), Big Break Visitor Center (Oakley), Black Diamond Mines Visitor Center (Antioch), Coyote Hills Visitor Center (Fremont), Crown Beach Crab Cove Visitor Center (Alameda), Garin Barn (Hayward), Sunol Visitor Center (Sunol), Tilden Botanic Garden, Environmental Education Center AND Little Farm (Berkeley).

All Internal Rental Facilities

Brazilian Room at Tilden Park (Berkeley), Shoreline Room at Martin Luther King, Jr. Shoreline (Oakland), Fern Cottage at Kennedy Grove (El Sobrante), Beach House at Lake Temescal (Oakland).

All programs, paid or free

This includes all school programs, recreational programs and naturalist-directed programs.

All campgrounds

Anthony Chabot and Del Valle

All swim facilities at

Contra Loma, Cull Canyon, Don Castro, Shadow Cliffs, Lake Anza at Tilden, Lake Temescal, Pool at Robert’s Regional Park, Quarry Lakes

As a reminder, currently, all regional parks and trails (except those listed above) remain open to the public. If you do visit, please be prepared by bringing your own water and hand sanitizer.

We understand that nature is a great place to get exercise and rejuvenate your mind, body and soul – especially in time of crisis. A walk on a trail, around your neighborhood or private backyard will allow you to breathe fresh air and help to reduce stress and anxiety.

For more information visit www.ebparks.org/news/releases.htm.