Park Happenings for August: Beat the heat in Regional Parks
Source: EBRPD
News from the East Bay Regional Park District
By Jen Vanya, Public Information Specialist, EBRPD
Visitor safety is always important for the East Bay Regional Park District, especially during times of excessive heat. Beat the heat in Regional Parks by preparing in advance for your adventure. Before heading out, make sure you check the weather and pay close attention to any heat advisories and warnings.
Here are some tips to stay safe when visiting Regional Parks on hot days:
- Stay hydrated and bring plenty of water.
- Stay cool by wearing a hat and loose, lightweight, and light-colored clothing.
- Avoid the hottest part of the day. If you do visit, go in the morning or early evening when it is cooler.
- Those vulnerable to heat should consider visiting on days when it is less hot.
- Avoid drinking alcohol and caffeine, which can worsen the heat’s effects on your body.
- Don’t forget your pets! Bring water for them, as water from streams or ponds is not always available or safe to drink.
Whenever it’s hot, fire safety is essential. Visitors must follow all fire safety rules, including no fireworks and no smoking anywhere in parks. Visit the Park District’s Alerts/Closures page (www.ebparks.org/alerts) for Fire Danger Level notices.
Regional Parks with cool weather and shady trails offer an escape from the summer heat. Here are some great options: Point Pinole Regional Shoreline (Richmond), Tilden Regional Park (Berkeley), Briones Regional Park (Lafayette, Martinez), George Miller Jr. Trail (Martinez to Port Costa), Diablo Foothills Regional Park (Walnut Creek, Concord, Alamo), Big Break Regional Shoreline (Oakley), Las Trampas Regional Wilderness (San Ramon), Reinhardt Redwood Regional Park (Oakland), Crown Memorial State Beach (Alameda), Coyote Hills Regional Park (Fremont), Sunol Wilderness Regional Preserve (Sunol). For more info, visit www.ebparks.org/visit/shady-hikes-cooler-parks.
Three Beat-the-Heat Hikes are scheduled in August at Black Diamond Regional Preserve and Del Valle Regional Park. At Black Diamond, enjoy a morning stroll up the shaded Chaparral loop on Saturday, August 12, 2023, from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. Get some exercise and learn how chaparral survives the hot and dry summer months. At Del Valle, enjoy moderate morning hike on Sunday, August 13, 2023, from 8:30-11:00 am and Saturday, August 26, 2023, from 9:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. along the East Shore Trail, with oak woodlands and beautiful views of Lake Del Valle. For more information, visit www.ebparks.org/calendar and search “Beat the Heat Hikes.”
Looking for a “Cool” activity? The Coal Mine Experience at Black Diamond Mines takes visitors deep beneath the surface to a time when coal powered California. The interactive and immersive experience transports visitors back in time with the sights and sounds of an active 1870s-era coal mine, with stories of the toils, triumphs, and tragedies embedded under the hills.
The Coal Mine Experience is located inside the Hazel-Atlas Mine at Black Diamond Mines Regional Preserve where temperatures are in the mid-50’s year-round, so bring a jacket or wear layered clothing.
Registration is required. For more information, visit www.ebparks.org/calendar and search “Coal Mine Experience.” All participants must be age 7 or older, and parent participation is required. Hard hats are required and provided.
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.
Richmond receives $700K from California State Parks’ Outdoor Equity Grants Program
$57 million provided for projects during first round of grants, a part of Outdoors for All Initiative
Applications open for Round Two – $50 million more to be funded for nature-based outdoor programs
SACRAMENTO, Calif.— California State Parks today announced the second application period for the Outdoor Equity Grants Program (OEP), which offers $50 million in grant funding for nature-based outdoor programs. The funding helps establish hubs for local activities and trips to natural areas for underserved communities. The program also empowers youth and families with outdoor leadership education, career pathways, environmental justice engagement and access to nature. The application deadline for this competitive statewide program is Thursday, Dec. 14, 2023.
“The Outdoor Equity Grants Program increases the ability for youth, families and other community members in park-poor communities to improve their health and wellness by connecting them to natural areas throughout California,” said California State Parks Director Armando Quintero. “We are excited to continue developing California’s future environmental leaders.”
The grant program is part of the Newsom Administration’s Outdoors for All Initiative.
State Parks will host eight in-person workshops for potential applicants throughout California between Labor Day and the end of September. Additionally, there will be three virtual application workshops scheduled in October. All workshops will be from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. RSVP links to the workshops will be available on Department of Parks and Recreation’s Office of Grants and Local Services webpage at parks.ca.gov/oep.
The program funds transportation, program operations, staffing, supplies and equipment, and other costs that traditionally presented barriers for historically underserved urban and rural communities throughout California. Eligible applicants include non-profit organizations with 501(c)3 status and all local, state and federal agencies. Examples include school districts and other public education agencies, cities and counties, joint powers authorities, open-space authorities, regional open-space districts, California Native American tribes, and other relevant public agencies.
For the first grant cycle of the program, State Parks evaluated 384 grant applications totaling $167.78 million in requests. A total of $57 million in grant funding was made available through general funds approved by the California Legislature and Governor Gavin Newsom in the 2020/21 and 2021/22 state budgets, and awarded on May 27, 2022.
One example of the projects that received funding during the first round of grants include:
Contra Costa County – City of Richmond: $700,000 was awarded to conduct the Youth Outdoors Richmond Program for residents near Nevin Community Center. This program will include approximately 99 activity days in the community for 12,000 participants and 36 trips to natural areas for 1,200 participants during three years of programming. Some of the activities in the community will include leadership and skill development and stewardship in local parks. A Calaveras Big Trees State Park Camping Trip, located about 158 miles east of Richmond in the counties of Calaveras and Tuolumne, is one of the trips that will be available to the community.
In 2019, the Outdoor Equity Grants Program was enacted when Governor Gavin Newsom signed Assembly Bill 209 which is now part of the Administration’s Outdoors for All Initiative. The concept for the grant program began with Proposition 68, which proposed to utilize bond funds for community access projects that included transportation, physical activity programming, resource interpretation, natural science, workforce development and career pathways, and education. Subsequently, the public expressed a desire to expand access to parks and outdoor programs for underserved communities and urban populations. These discussions became a catalyst for AB 209 and the development of the Outdoor Equity Grants Program. Californians shared a similar vision in 2017 during 30 focus groups with over 500 participants for the Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan. Throughout the state, from heavily urbanized to rural areas, Californians emphasized a desire for multi-generational programs that bring families together, activate local parks and take residents with transportation challenges to natural areas outside their communities.
To learn more about this grant program and the application guide, sign up for email notices to access application workshop schedules, and for technical assistance, contacts are available at parks.ca.gov/oep.
Body found in river identified as San Leandro man missing while boating last Friday
A Coast Guard helicopter flies over the river searching for the missing boater along the Antioch waterfront Friday, July 21, 2023. Screenshot of video by Allen D. Payton
Recovered Monday morning; conflicting information from agencies of what occurred; no investigation by APD
By Allen D. Payton
According to Antioch Police Public Information Liaison Sgt. Price Kendall, on Tuesday, July 25, 2023, the body of the man missing in the river last Friday during a boating mishap was found.
Con Fire spokeswoman, Assistant Fire Chief Tracie Dutter said, “Someone reported a possible deceased male on the rocks near Fulton Shipyard Road on Monday at 7:48 AM. We were requested by PD to assist in recovering the body. We were on scene assisting at about 8:20 a.m. and by 8:40 a.m. the recovery was completed.”
According to Deputy Gonzalez of the Contra Costa County Coroner’s Office, the man was identified as 58-year-old Douglas Cross from San Leandro, based on his driver’s license information.
As previously reported, according to Jimmy Lee, Contra Costa Sheriff’s Office Director of Public Affairs, “On Friday, July 21, 2023, at about 1:51 PM, deputy sheriffs from the Marine Patrol Unit were dispatched to assist the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District and the United States Coast Guard with searching for a missing boater who was apparently trying to push his 20-foot vessel to shore near the Fulton Shipyard on the San Joaquin River. The U.S. Coast Guard and Sheriff’s Office drone team were also involved in the search. The missing boater, who is not being identified at this time, was not located. (See video)
The Marine Patrol Unit continued the search on Saturday, he added.
However, according to Coast Guard Public Affairs Specialist Schnabel, “We suspended the search after searching until around 7:30 pm. One man had fallen overboard from a recreational boat and the other man jumped in after him attempting to get him out of the water leaving the vessel unmanned. Neither had life jackets. One man was recovered by a Good Samaritan and taken to a local boat ramp.”
Asked if an investigation was being conducted to determine what occurred and if the other man had been interviewed to get his side of the story, Sgt. Kendall responded, “No investigation is being conducted by the Antioch Police Department.”
Lee was asked the same question but did not respond prior to publication time. Please check back later for any updates to this report.
Annual Oakley Kids Fishing Derby on the Antioch Fishing Pier Aug. 12
By City of Oakley Recreation Department
The annual Kids Fishing Derby will be held on Saturday, August 12th. The Derby is for children up to age 15 and registration is FREE. This is a “catch and release” derby so children will be assisted to release the fish after they have been logged.
Registration and check-in is from 8 AM – 9 AM. The Derby runs from 9 AM – 11 AM, followed by complimentary snacks and awards.
The Derby will be held on the Antioch Fishing Pier in the Antioch/Oakley Regional Shoreline off Bridgehead Road in Oakley.
Register by clicking here. Click on Special Events then Kids Fishing Derby.
For more information, call Alicia O’Leary at (925) 625-7044 or email: oleary@ci.oakley.ca.us.
Thrive Thursdays/Health 4 All to support Richmond Soccer Coordination Center’s “Girl Power” Initiative July 20
By Supervisor John Gioia, District 1, Contra Costa County
Join us this Thursday evening to support Richmond Soccer Coordination Center’s “Girl Power” Initiative
Thrive Thursdays/Health 4 All at Martin Luther King, Jr. Park at 360 Harbor Way in Richmond from 6:30 – 8:00 pm
Únase a nosotros este jueves por la noche en MLK Jr. Park para apoyar la iniciativa “Girl Power” del Richmond Soccer Coordination Center
Thrive Thursdays/Health 4 All en Martin Luther King, Jr. Park en Richmond de 6:30 a 8:00 p.m.
This week, Thrive Thursdays welcomes Richmond Soccer Coordination Center’s efforts to uplift girls’ athletics in the East Bay.
Our growing weekly public health event, Thrive Thursday, is set for another boost as Richmond Soccer Coordination Center’s “Girl Power” initiative will join us on Thursday, July 20 at 6 pm for a press conference that coincides with the start of FIFA Women’s World Cup play!
Girl Power is a perfect message to add to Thrive Thursday’s call for supporting nutrition and fitness empowerment for all.
Supporting health for all means fighting to advance equity in everything we do, and equity and sports excellence is something that our Women’s National Soccer Team embodies.
Women’s soccer has grown into a global brand, but work remains at the community level to encourage girls and women to explore athletics. The National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) recently added a women’s club in the Bay Area, called Bay FC. Oakland is also home to Oakland Soul SC, part of another professional league for the development and launch of women’s soccer in the United States.
For more information about this exciting event contact Tania Pulido in my office at (510) 942-2225 or Tania.pulido@bos.cccounty.us.
|
|
|
San Ramon celebrates 40th Anniversary of cityhood with swim and movie night, concert, gala
The City of San Ramon is excited to be celebrating its 40th Anniversary!
In 1983, San Ramon voters decided overwhelmingly to incorporate as a city. Officially incorporated on July 1, 1983, the community assumed leadership over development, police, parks, and other services. A new library, community center, and parks were quickly in the planning stages.
The City will be celebrating throughout the year with commemorative giveaways, special events, and more!
For upcoming events and announcements, sign up for email updates here.
40th Anniversary Celebrations
Dive-In Movie: Top Gun: Maverick
Friday, August 4
San Ramon Olympic Pool (9900 Broadmoor Drive)
Rec Swim at 7 p.m.
Movie at 8:15 p.m.
Admission: $1/person
Act#18880
40th Anniversary Celebration Concert in the Park: Fast Times Dance Party
Sunday, August 6 at 5:30 p.m.
Central Park Amphitheater (12501 Alcosta Blvd)
FREE for All Ages!
40th Anniversary Gala
Friday, August 25
City Hall Rotunda (7000 Bollinger Canyon Road) and San Ramon Community Center (12501 Alcosta Blvd)
East Bay Park Happenings for June
Source: EBRPD
News from the East Bay Regional Park District
By Dave Mason, Public Information Supervisor, Public Affairs, East Bay Regional Park District
Each summer, the East Bay Regional Park District welcomes visitors to Regional Parks to spend time exploring nature and connect with family and friends. Whether it is a sunshine-filled hike, family picnic, or group barbecue, Regional Parks offer a place for healthy and safe recreation while also protecting open space and natural habitat for wildlife.
Popular summertime activities in Regional Parks include swimming, picnicking, barbecuing, fishing, boating, kayaking, canoeing, movie nights, day camps, adventure camps, and naturalist-led programs. Whatever your activity this summer, make sure you enjoy your time in East Bay Regional Parks responsibly and safely. (See maps: PDF or interactive)
Summer tips for visitors:
- Stay Cool and Hydrated – Plan ahead and bring plenty of water.
- Beat the Heat – On hot days, visit in the morning and early evening when it is cooler.
- Drink Safely – Alcohol is only allowed at certain Regional Parks.
- Follow Water Safety Rules When Swimming – Free loaner life jackets are available at all life-guarded Park District swim facilities as an extra safeguard for anyone concerned about their swimming abilities or those of their children.
- Follow All Fire Safety Rules – Be aware of fire danger warnings and fire safety rules.
The Park District is celebrating Juneteenth with a Free Park Day on Sunday, June 18, in recognition of the date when enslaved Black Americans in Texas were notified of their freedom, albeit 2.5 years after the Emancipation Proclamation was issued. Please note that due to most District programming taking place on weekends, the Free Park Day will take place on Sunday, June 18, 2023. The District is committed to enhancing diversity, equity, and inclusion, and making our parks and agency more welcoming and reflective of the communities we serve.
Fees waived for Juneteenth include park entrance, parking, dogs, horses, boat launching, and fishing. However, the fee waiver does not apply to swimming, camping, reservable picnic facilities (due to capacity limits), District concessions, state fees for fishing licenses, and watercraft inspections for invasive mussels.
The Park District is also celebrating Juneteenth with several naturalist-led programs, including a hike at Coyote Hills Regional Park in Fremont on Sunday, June 18, 2023, at 10 a.m. and nature walks at Thurgood Marshall Regional Park in Concord on Monday, June 19, 2023, at 10 a.m. and at Big Break Regional Shoreline in Oakley on Monday, June 19, 2023, at 8 a.m. For more information, visit www.ebparks.org/Juneteenth.
Enjoy Father’s Day in Regional Parks with themed activities at Crown Beach in Alameda and Del Valle Regional Park in Livermore.
Father’s Day will be celebrated at Crown Beach with a day-long celebration on Sunday, June 18 from 11 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Bring family, food, and friends to the beach, then visit the Doug Siden Visitor Center at Crab Cove for crafts and activities to celebrate Father’s Day. Meet a snake, make a craft for Dad, and enjoy some fun in the sun!
At Del Valle, Father’s Day will be celebrated with a hike on June 18 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Celebrate Dad by spending time in nature on a two-mile hike in the hills as you learn about nature’s fantastic fathers! The whole family is invited. Some of the hike will be on paved paths and there is a short hill. Meet at the Del Valle Visitor Center.
For more information about the Park District’s Father’s Day activities, visit www.ebparks.org/calendar and search “Father’s Day.”
Join the Park District at one of its naturalist-led campfire programs filled with songs, games, photos, stories, activities and more. Gather the family for an evening of fun and exploration of nature, plus s’mores of course! June campfire programs are scheduled at Del Valle Regional Park in Livermore, Anthony Chabot Regional Park in Castro Valley, and Dumbarton Quarry Campground in Fremont.
For more information, visit www.ebparks.org/calendar and search “Campfire.”
Shadow Cliffs is full after years of severe drought and historic low water levels. The return of swimming is planned for a June 16 opening, based on water quality testing and park and lifeguard staffing. Fishing from shore is allowed. The return of boating is planned for late June, dependent on quagga inspection staffing. Shadow Cliffs has been closed to swimming for the past three years, first due to the COVID-19 pandemic, then due to severe drought.
In early May, the Park District entered into an agreement to purchase surplus water from the Zone 7 Water District via Arroyo Valle to refill Shadow Cliffs Regional Recreational Area to return recreational opportunities to the lake. Visit the parks webpage at www.ebparks.org/parks/shadow-cliffs for up-to-date information.
A year-round fire season is the “new normal” in California. The Park District’s wildfire safety efforts include removing flammable vegetation, maintaining a professionally trained full-time and on-call fire department, maintaining specialized wildland firefighting equipment, and monitoring fire weather conditions.
While the Park District works 365 days a year to manage and remove hazardous vegetation, it is our collective efforts that can have the greatest impact. For tips on how you can do to prepare for wildfires, visit www.ebparks.org/fire-safety-tips.
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.
New playground structure installation at Regatta Park in Discovery Bay thru June 30
Rendering of Regatta Park playground structure by Miracle Playsystems. Source: CCC Public Works
By Kelly Kalfsbeek, PIO, Community & Media Relations Coordinator, CCC Public Works Department
Contra Costa County Public Works is installing a new playground structure at Regatta Park, 2514 Foghorn Way, Discovery Bay. Work has already started on this wonderful project, and will continue through Friday, June 30, 2023, barring unforeseen circumstances. Contractors will be working between 7:00 a.m.- 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday (excluding holidays), weather permitting. The park will remain open during installation; however, park users may encounter staff and equipment during working hours.
Fencing will be installed around the work area for safety. The new playground areas will not be accessible while fencing is in place. Walking on the surfaces during the curing process can affect the finished product.
About Contra Costa County Public Works Department:
Contra Costa County Public Works Department (CCCPWD) maintains over 660 miles of roads, 150 miles of streams, channels and other drainage and over 150 County buildings throughout Contra Costa County. CCCPWD provides services such as Parks and Recreation, Sandbag Distribution and Flood Control throughout the unincorporated areas of Contra Costa County. CCCPWD operates two airports, Buchanan Field Airport in Concord and Byron Airport in Byron. For more information about CCCPWD, please visit us at www.cccpublicworks.org.
Contra Costa Sheriff offers safety tips for boating season
Source: CoCoCo Sheriff
The Memorial Day holiday weekend traditionally marks the start of boating season on the Delta. A large number of people are expected to be on the water this weekend and throughout the summer to go fishing, boating or take part in water sports, like water-skiing.
“We want all boaters and those on the Delta to enjoy themselves, but to be safe,” said Contra Costa Sheriff David Livingston. “By following the laws and regulations, wearing a life-jacket, avoiding alcohol, and boating safely, you could help avoid an accident or tragedy on the water.”
The Contra Costa County Office of the Sheriff Marine Ser-vices Unit would like to remind all boaters to be safe, alert, and obey the rules. Here are some important rules and tips:
-Anyone 50 or under who oper-ates a vessel that is propelled by an engine, regardless of whether the engine is the principal source of propulsion, must have in their possession a California Boater Card issued by the state. By 2025, anyone operating a motorized vessel will be required to possess a California Boater Card. For more information on the California Boater Card, go to www.dbw.ca.gov.
-All vessels, including stand-up paddle boards (SUPs), must have a U.S. Coast Guard approved life jacket for each person. The life jacket must fit the person intending to wear it. Children under 13 must always wear a life jacket while aboard any vessel, regardless of length, unless they are surrounded by an enclosed cabin or bulkhead. We encourage every-one, regardless of age, to wear a personal floatation device at all times when on the water.
-You must be at least 16 years old to operate a power boat or personal watercraft. All persons on a personal watercraft are required to wear an approved life jacket.
-Boats 16 feet and larger are required to have a life ring or square type 4 throwable flotation device which must be immediately accessible.
-Always travel at a safe speed. Slow down in narrow channels and blind areas and navigate on the right side of the waterway. In crossing situations, the boat on the right has the right of way.
-The operator of a vessel involved in towing a skier must display, or cause to be displayed, a red or orange water ski flag to indicate: a downed skier, a skier in the water preparing to ski, a ski line extended for the vessel, or a ski in the water in the vicinity of the vessel.
-Blue Light law — Any vessel approaching, overtaking, being approached, or being overtaken by a moving law enforcement or emergency vessel operating with a siren or an illuminated blue light, or any vessel approaching a stationary law enforcement vessel displaying an illumi-nated blue light, shall immediately slow to a speed sufficient to maintain steerage. Boaters cannot make a wake near a law enforcement vessel displaying a blue light.
-Always have an emergency kit that includes a flashlight, warm clothing, cell phone, VHF radio and chart. For emergencies on the water, boaters should call 911 or Sheriff’s Dispatch at (925) 646-2441. Be sure to file a float plan before you depart. Go to this link for more information on float plans and how to fill one out:
https://uscgboating.org/recreational-boaters/floating-plan.php
-Be aware of potential carbon monoxide poisoning that can occur when the motor is running while occupying the swim platform or in vicinity of the vessel’s transom.
Boating under the influence (B.U.I.) enforcement is a high priority. Those arrested for B.U.I. will face similar consequences as those who drive a motor vehicle under the influence, including fines and possible jail time.
The ‘ABC’s of Boating’, a handbook of boating rules, is available from most boating shops. Boaters can go to the California Division of Boating and Waterways website at www.dbw.ca.gov for information on boating safety and the California Boater Card. If anyone has any questions about boating safety, please contact the Marine Services Unit at (925) 427-8507.
- « Previous Page
- 1
- …
- 5
- 6
- 7
- 8
- 9
- …
- 16
- Next Page »