North Richmond Shoreline

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A Community-based Vision for the North Richmond Shoreline POINT PINOLE REGIONAL PARK North Richmond Shoreline Open Space THE RICHMOND SHORELINE Alliance (NRSOSA) and Citizens for East Shore ISIS ANAN IMPORTANTIMPORTANT EDUCATIONALEDUCATIONAL Parks (CESP) have been working closely together AND RECREATIONAL RESOURCE to develop an inclusive vision for the shoreline that will bring long-overdue public access for Richmond’s underserved communities. Richmond deserves first-class public parks, Four Spectacular open space, and recreational opportunities Opportunities for all of its citizens, regardless of race or The NRSOSA/CESP longterm vision is to economic status. create parkland from Pt. Pinole to Wildcat Creek Marsh. This world class park will be a key The Shoreline’s Tarnished History destination in a whole network of shoreline Despite its natural beauty, the North Richmond parks from Crockett to San Jose. Four Shoreline has been a dumping ground for East spectacular properties (see map at right) offer Bay communities for years. Large swaths of opportunity for much-needed recreation, marshland have been illegally filled, causing wildlife habitat and public access for the severe environmental damage. The West County entire shoreline. Landfill, a 235-foot-tall “garbage mountain,” has The Community’s Vision BREUNER finally been stuffed to capacity after more than MARSH 50 years of dumping. South of the dump, near for the North Richmond Shoreline Wildcat Creek Marsh, are sewage treatment calls for: plants. Chevron expelled contaminated refinery • Working to protect the North Richmond wastewater into Castro Cove (west of Wildcat Shoreline from Pt. Pinole to Wildcat Creek RHEEM CREEK Creek Marsh) for nearly a century. Neighbors Marsh, including open space and parks, have been denied access to a healthy shoreline. first-class recreation and stunning views; • Building athletic fields for our youth; PROPOSED DEVELOPMENTS • Restoring precious marshland and THREATEN THE GREEN SPACE Rheem Creek to their historic beauty; • Acquiring key shoreline properties FOUR KEY south of Breuner Marsh as they PROPERTIES FOR ACQUISITION become available.

Urban Industrial Complex? Now, developers have their eyes on the North Richmond Shoreline, hoping to turn it SAN PABLO into an urban industrial complex. Another CREEK proposal includes housing despite the fact that deed restrictions on the property prohibit residential use due to groundwater contamination. Developments like these would prevent community access to the shoreline, block views of the bay, and destroy a vital ecosystem. The increased traffic and pollution would further degrade the area. This piecemeal development offers only empty NORTH promises and creates a jumbled, inaccessible, RICHMOND poorly-planned shoreline, despoiled of natural WILDCAT WILDCAT CREEK beauty. Richmond deserves a better future! CREEK MARSH

RICHMOND SCHOOL CHILDREN ENJOY EXPLORING THE CREEK AND MARSH Why Parks and Open Space? The children of Richmond are hospitalized for asthma at twice the rate of the rest of Contra Costa County, according to county health records. Richmond Mayor Gayle McLaughlin recently RICHMOND/ described the North Richmond Shoreline as the SAN RAFAEL BRIDGE “lungs of Richmond.” A protected shoreline will improve air quality and newfound recreational use of the North Richmond LET YOUR VOICE BE HEARD! Shoreline will enhance the health of citizens in Write your local officials—tell them that nearby communities. shoreline open space, parkland and An East Bay Regional Park District study shows that parks, open space, and trails increase quality of recreational opportunities are a priority life and property values throughout the East Bay; the value of property adjacent to open space may be for Richmond voters. You can also get involved with our organizations. Contact: enhanced by as much as 30% by the views of and access to parks and open space. Separate studies 510-524-5000, [email protected] or visit show that businesses are attracted by quality of life and quality of environment. Parks and open space www.eastshorepark.org. enhance both.

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to help protect the North Richmond Shoreline, Richmond North the protect help to FOR MORE INFORMATION, MORE FOR

or to find out how how out find to or Richmond raising the quality of life for all. all. for life of quality the raising

of Richmond—increasing community access and access community Richmond—increasing of Shoreline

TOGETHER WE CAN WE TOGETHER repair the environmental fabric environmental the repair PARKS ALONG THE SHORELINE

The North Richmond Shoreline is one of San Richmond. Richmond. CAN PROVIDE

Francisco Bay’s most important natural treasures. SAFE HAVENS FOR

the underserved neighborhoods in North in neighborhoods underserved the KIDS TO PLAY

community asset for for asset community This spectacular shoreline stretches from Wildcat

shoreline or a protected, vibrant shoreline that is a is that shoreline vibrant protected, a or shoreline Creek Marsh north to Pt. Pinole and contains 500

it wants a hastily-approved, development-clogged hastily-approved, a wants it acres of tidal marsh, 800 acres of mudflats, and the The shoreline is home to numerous shorebirds and

NOW IS THE TIME THE IS NOW for Richmond to decide if if decide to Richmond for largest eelgrass bed in the San Francisco Bay. the shallow waters are a critical habitat for diverse Get Involved Today! Involved Get Eelgrass provides essential habitat to fish and aquatic life including oysters, Pacific herring, foraging birds such as the California least tern, an lingcod, and salmon. The area is a habitat for the

California clapper rail and salt marsh harvest mouse, PERMIT #1048 PERMIT

BERKELEY, CA BERKELEY, both endangered species, and three candidates for

PAID AN EAST BAY REGIONAL PARK DISTRICT STUDY

510-524-5000 federal endangered status: the black rail, salt marsh

U.S. POSTAGE U.S.

ALBANY, CA 94706 CA ALBANY, SHOWS THAT PARKS, OPEN SPACE, AND TRAILS

STANDARD wandering shrew, and the San Pablo vole. Great

P.O. BOX 6087 BOX P.O.

PRESORTED INCREASE QUALITY OF LIFE AND PROPERTY CITIZENS FOR EAST SHORE PARKS SHORE EAST FOR CITIZENS egrets, white-tailed kites, and great blue herons, VALUES THROUGHOUT THE EAST BAY all species of concern, also call the shoreline home.

endangered species. Wildcat, San Pablo, and Rheem The shoreline is habitat for people too. Despite creeks all flow into the shoreline. It is a valuable restricted access, generations of residents of the THE NORTH RICHMOND portion of Richmond’s 32 miles of shoreline—the historic North Richmond Shoreline communities SHORELINE OFFERS STUNNING VIEWS OF MOUNT TAMALPAIS Partnering Together longest of any city in the Bay Area. have enjoyed the shoreline’s natural beauty, visiting AND SAN PABLO BAY to Protect the North it to hike, fish, and bird-watch. The nearest Richmond Shoreline neighborhoods are Parchester Village (one of the oldest African-American subdivisions in California), North Richmond Shoreline Open Shields-Reid, and West San Pablo. Space Alliance (NRSOSA) and Citizens for East Shore Parks (CESP) are working to protect undeveloped shoreline in the East Bay. CESP and its allies succeeded in creating the Eastshore State Park, a unique urban park. NRSOSA is a local environmental group that includes the children and grandchildren of some of Richmond’s earliest environmentalists. Together, we successfully advocated for acquisition of Breuner Marsh. This marshland will extend the Point Pinole Regional Park southward, adding 218 acres of open shoreline. The new North Richmond Shoreline could become a precious jewel in the necklace of shoreline parks from Oakland to the Carquinez Strait. THE GOLDEN GLOW OF BREUNER MARSH AT SUNSET