Regional in Nature Activity Guide JULY – AUGUST 2020
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Regional in Nature Activity Guide JULY – AUGUST 2020 Check Our Website for Information on Reopenings - Camping, Boating, Swimming, and Fishing. Preparing for Fire Season. See page 4. inside • Parks are Essential, page 2 • Scavenger Hunt, page 13 • The Buzz on Native Bees, page 6 • Sunol Regional Wilderness, page 14 • Woodpeckers of Coyote Hills, page 9 • Garden Scone Recipe, page 15 Social Distancing... The New Normal. See page 2. • Build a Wildlife Habitat, page 12 • Volunteer Program, page 16 Contents A message from Message from the GM ........ 2 Parks are Essential... NOW MORE THAN EVER general manager COVID-19 .............................. 3 robert e. doyle Wildfire Awareness ......... 4-5 Ardenwood ........................... 6 The East Bay miles of recreational trails open and to keep dogs on-leash in parks, Big Break ................................ 7 Regional Park accessible to the public. and avoiding gatherings, picnicking, and Black Diamond ..................... 8 District has long Through proper emergency barbequing. With continued increases promoted parks management and planning, we have in COVID-19 cases, it is important Coyote Hills .......................... 9 as an essential been able to limit crowding, keeping to keep yourselves and our staff safe service vital to by wearing a mask. Wearing a mask Crab Cove ........................... 10 parks safe for visitors. Our plan our quality of ensures that parks and trails are is essential to keeping us all safe. Del Valle ............................... 11 life and to our kept open in the most equitable way I am proud of our staff for their physical and Mobile Education ............... 12 possible, spreading out parks access resilience in adapting quickly to a mental health. The recent COVID-19 in both urban and suburban areas. changing environment and for their crisis has demonstrated that, with Outdoor Recreation ......... 13 I am also proud of our organization unwavering dedication to public undeniable clarity. service. Next time you see one of Sunol ..................................... 14 and how we came It has not been easy, with many together during this our employees, Tilden .................................... 15 challenges including limited staffing, crisis to persevere and please thank them rapidly changing health orders, and for their service. Volunteer Program ............ 16 carry out our mission of the need to educate the public providing parks, open space, It means a lot. quickly about how to visit parks trails, recreation, and Your patience, safely (some of you may have environmental education. cooperation, and seen our PSAs on TV providing Please enjoy the Digital Learning understanding during this time of information about visiting parks). videos created by our talented crowded parks has been much Protecting the health and safety Naturalists. appreciated by the Park District of the public and our employees as we work to balance the public’s continues to be our top priority. Thank you to our park visitors, too, for being responsible and need for parks, public health, and ebparks.org The Park District has answered doing your part, maintaining social the health of our employees. the call and kept over 99% of the distancing, bringing and wearing Stay healthy, and be safe in your District’s 125,000 acres of parklands, General Information masks, abiding by rules Regional Parks. 55 miles of shoreline, and 1,300 1-888-EBPARKS or 1-888-327- 2757 Camping and Picnic Reservations ... ................................1-888-EBPARKS Naturalist and Recreation Social Distancing Programs ..............1-888-EBPARKS the New Normal in Parks TRS Relay Service ....................7-1-1 It’s evident that COVID-19 has changed – at least and mental health. No longer are parks just nice-to-have, EBRPD Board of Directors in the short term – the way we collectively recreate, they are a must-have. Parks provide access to nature – a Elizabeth Echols .........................Ward 1 exercise, spend time with family, and explore the natural sanctuary from which we draw strength and solace. Dee Rosario ................................Ward 2 world. Eco-spirituality, the connection between humans and the Dennis Waespi ...........................Ward 3 Just a few months ago, being a thoughtful park visitor environment, sustains us through challenging times. Ellen Corbett (President) ........Ward 4 Ayn Wieskamp ...........................Ward 5 meant parking properly, bringing water, and picking To keep parks safe and enjoyable for all – from hikers to Beverly Lane ...............................Ward 6 up after our pets. runners, bikers to bird watchers, and anglers to horseback Colin Coffey ................................Ward 7 Today, it includes all the above plus bringing a mask, hand riders – everyone needs to do their part. Robert E. Doyle .......General Manager sanitizer, and being ready to step aside on narrow trails and Protect yourself and other park visitors from COVID-19 at busy trailheads. For runners and bikers, it also means exposure. Join us in keeping our parks safe and accessible by Visit ebparks.org for map keeping an even greater distance as strenuous exercise can always wearing a mask at or around your neck and covering downloads, activity and event cause more forceful expulsion of airborne particles. your nose and mouth when you are near other people. information, and much more! Parks have become essential during the pandemic as the For more info on COVID-19 park guidelines, visit public increasingly depends on parks to maintain physical ebparks.org/COVID-19. Forging Forward in Midst of COVID-19 Projects improving Public Access, Habitat Restoration, COVID-19 and Wildlife and Wildfire Protection During the past six months, we have worked Judge John Sutter Regional Shoreline ildlife doesn’t know that there’s a steadfastly, adapting quickly to new challenges Bay Observation Pier—OPENING SOON Wpandemic going on. California least terns and demands. Keeping our eyes on the prize, we A 600-foot long bay observation pier was recently are continuing to migrate from South America, have completed several major shoreline projects completed at the new Judge John Sutter Regional building their nests, laying eggs, and hatching that protect our natural environment and provide Shoreline, located at the eastern touchdown of babies just like they have always done along the recreational access with spectacular views. Take a the Bay Bridge. The observation pier, built atop east side of the San Francisco Bay. In rock-strewn look at several public access improvements, habitat six pilings from the old Bay Bridge, provides grasslands, the Western Fence Lizard is basking restoration projects, and safety initiatives below: spectacular Bay views and allows visitors to in the sun and not fussing about keeping its Albany Beach and SF Bay Trail Extension— connect to the site’s transportation history. social distance, but instead is flashing its stunning NOW OPEN Fishing is allowed. blue sides to invite others of its kind to join in a This long-awaited one-mile extension of the SF Black Diamond Coal Mining Exhibit— reptilian-style rock party! Lastly, in the fading light Bay Trail from Gilman Street and to Albany Beach OPENING SOON and the cool evening air, nearly 15 East Bay Bat recently reopened – removing one of the largest A new realistic coal mine exhibit at Black Diamond species are “un-masked” and flitting about, eating gaps in the Bay Trail and creating 18 miles of Mines Regional Preserve has been completed anything that bugs them. continuous Bay Trail from Richmond to Oakland. that will take visitors back in time to an 1870s Covid-19 has allowed us to slow down and The new trail, comprising a magnificent bridge, era coal mine, complete with sights and sounds. reconnect with the provides panoramic views of the Golden Gate The immersive educational experience will allow immediate natural Bridge, Bay Bridge, and San Francisco skyline. The for greater understanding and appreciation of the world around us. project also restored beach habitat and improved area’s coal mining past. Every time you public access at Albany Beach, including additional Dumbarton Quarry Campground by venture out into parking, restrooms, and picnic tables. This location the Bay at Coyote Hills—COMING 2021 nature, you can is a launch site for the SF Bay Water Trail. Construction is on-going to build the Park discover something District’s first shoreline campground with a grand spectacular. We have opening expected in 2021. The first phase of the some pretty amazing animal and bird species right project includes 63-site RV campsites, shower and here in our East Bay Regional Parks. washroom buildings, camp store and scenic walking While many think there are suddenly more birds trails along the Fremont/Newark Shoreline. singing and wildlife sightings, in reality, it could McCosker Creek Restoration and Public be that with less anthropogenic (human) noise, Access Project—UNDER CONSTRUCTION less rush hour traffic, we are hearing more birds, The largest creek restoration project in the Park and with more people in the parks, seeing more District’s history recently broke ground at Sibley wildlife. Increased number of people in parks may Volcanic Regional Preserve. The project will restore also attract animals – such as coyotes – who may sections of Alder and Leatherwood creeks in the be searching for dropped sandwiches, etc. upper San Leandro Creek watershed, daylighting One note of caution. Please respect wildlife and