Regional in Nature January - February 2011 East Bay Regional Park District Activity Guide
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Regional in Nature January - February 2011 East Bay Regional Park District Activity Guide www.ebparks.org “Park District Naturalists in Bay Nature Magazine” Page 3 inside. Photo: Joan Hamilton Joan Photo: Inside: Introduction to Golf • page 4 Fun for the Kids at Ardenwood • page 5 A Free Monarchs at Ardenwood • page 6 Program! See See Black Diamond in Ansel Adams’ Footsteps • page 7 Inside Make a California Indian Basket • page 8 Kids’ Programs at Crab Cove and TNA • page 9 Contents General Manager Pat O’Brien Announces Retirement Pat O’Brien, the East Bay Regional parkland development in the East Bay; Recreation .......................................4 Park District’s General Manager since • Expansion of the agency from Boating & Fishing ...........................4 1988, will retire from his post at the 66,000 acres in 1988 to over 104,000 end of 2010. acres today–an achievement that Ardenwood .................................5-6 “With regret our board has distinguishes the Park District as Black Diamond ...............................7 received notice of the impending the largest local park and recreation Botanic Garden ..............................8 retirement of our longtime General agency in the United States; Manager, Pat O’Brien,” said Doug • Dramatically increased public Coyote Hills ................................7-8 Siden, President of the Park District’s access to parklands by expanding from Crab Cove ...................................8-9 Board of Directors. “Under his 48 to 65 parks, adding over 100 miles Sunol .............................................8-9 outstanding leadership over 22 years, of regional trails, and increasing the O’Brien has made EBRPD the nation’s scope and range of recreational and Tilden Nature Area .......................9 premier park agency.” educational programs and services; Other Regional Parks .............9-12 “Pat’s leadership and hands- • Developed many partnerships Volunteer Programs ........10-11, 14 on involvement with the Board of and collaborations with non-profi ts, Directors has resulted in signifi cant universities and community colleges, Park District Awarded Green Transportation Grant .................13 benefi ts for the residents of the and other public agencies, which for me as I am so committed to the East Bay area and beyond,” said has resulting in the development of Regional Park District, its mission, Hiking Adventures With Siden. “Adding 38,000 acres of large-scale capital projects such as the Board, and the incredible staff “4WheelBob” ............................... 14 parklands for the public to access and Camp Arroyo, the youth camp and who work to accomplish what other Regional Parks Police Earn enjoy, for example, is one of many environmental education center near agencies cannot even contemplate.” CALEA Accreditation ................ 14 accomplishments that make governing Livermore, and the Tidewater Aquatic Prior to joining the Park District in Registration & Fees .....................15 this agency so rewarding,” said Siden. Center at Martin Luther King, Jr., 1988, O’Brien was general manager Visitor Centers/ “Pat surely will be missed.” Regional Shoreline in Oakland and of Southgate Recreation and Park Swim Areas ...................................15 In a statement, the outgoing the Delta Science Center at Big Break District in Sacramento, California. He general manager said, “I am very Regional Shoreline in Oakley – both served as Southgate’s superintendent appreciative of the Board of Direc- slated to open next year; of recreation from 1974-1980. He got tors, our staff, and the citizens of the • Incorporated the greater his start in parks and recreation as a East Bay, and the various organizations Livermore Area into the Park District, lifeguard. that have partnered with us over expanding it to fully encompass He holds a master’s degree in time to accomplish acquisitions, Alameda and Contra Costa counties. linguistic philosophy and a bachelor’s development, restorations and O’Brien’s has been honored degree in philosophy with a minor in incredible public programs.” with numerous awards and other recreation administration from San O’Brien’s retirement on recognition nationally, including being Francisco State University. December 31 comes after years of honored in 2009 as a “Legend in the O’Brien is an avid water sports unprecedented accomplishments Field” by the American Academy for enthusiast. He is looking forward to during his 22-year tenure, including: Park and Recreation Administration. staying actively involved in state and • Passage of Measure WW, a $500 O’Brien, 70, will leave behind a federal legislative issues and plans million bond–the largest park bond lasting legacy of preservation for to travel with his wife Diana and ever ratifi ed in the nation to fund the generations. “As you might imagine,” spend more time enjoying his three next generation of open space and he says, “this is not an easy decision grandchildren. General Information / Free Brochure ..............1-888-EBPARKS Camping & Picnic Reservations ...... ................................1-888-EBPARKS The 2011 Trails Challenge Kick Off Naturalist & Recreation The East Bay Regional Park District will begin taking a continued partnership with Kaiser Permanente, this Programs ..............1-888-EBPARKS registrations for its 2011 Trails Challenge on January 18. year’s Trails Challenge is free and includes an online TDD ...........................510-633-0460 This is the 18th year for this self-guided hiking program hiking booklet and T-shirt. All registration must be done Website ..............www.ebparks.org which encourages people to get outside and explore online at www.ebparks.org. Look for the Trails Challenge the many parks and trails in the East Bay. Last year, over logo. Details are also on the back of this activity guide. 5,000 hikers, walkers, and cyclists signed up. Thanks to Happy trails! EBRPD Board of Directors Whitney Dotson........................Ward 1 John Sutter ..................................Ward 2 Carol Severin ..............................Ward 3 Douglas Siden .............................Ward 4 Ayn Wieskamp ...........................Ward 5 Beverly Lane ...............................Ward 6 A Free Ted Radke ....................................Ward 7 Program Robert E. Doyle ......General Manager Visit www.ebparks.org for map downloads, activity and event information, and much more! Photo: Hillary Van Austen Look Out for Newts Health By Jessica Sheppard, Resource Analyst The late fall rains do more than green up our parks, they also awaken Matters one of our more famous salamanders: The California newt. Looking like a small brown lizard, newts are actually amphibians–they don’t have scales! East Bay They rest all summer in preparation for the slow and steady journey to the Regional Park District breeding ponds or streams every winter. AND The California newt, essentially the mascot of Tilden Nature Area in Tilden Regional Park, enjoys some personal protection for its annual migration. Based on staff research in partnership with UC Berkeley, the Park District ARE PROUD PARTNERS IN 2011 WITH THE MUTUAL GOAL closes South Park Drive in Tilden Regional Park during the rainy season. OF PROMOTING HEALTH AND FITNESS. The Stewardship department supports this closure and recognizes the importance of wildlife corridors to maintain healthy populations. Aware Find Your Fitness of worldwide decline of amphibian populations, the Park District has been Are you bored with your current conducting long-term amphibian studies within our parks. Amphibian exercise program? It may be and wildlife reports are available on our website at www.ebparks.org/ because you haven’t found the stewardship/wildlife. right exercise for you. Figuring out Many hikers enjoy the closed road and may be rewarded with a glimpse what motivates you and fi nding the of a newt determinedly hiking in damp weather. The newts are protected right exercise to match is the key! from being eaten by the poison in their skin and can afford to be slow. Take a moment to fi gure out Unfortunately the toxins don’t help them against vehicles. Before the annual which activities suit you, then road closures, hundreds of newts were killed daily. go for it! Weight Management If you want to learn more about the California newt and what happens – aerobic activities like walking, when they all get together in those full ponds, join a naturalist-led newt jogging, swimming, biking, and aerobic classes burn the most Photo: llana Peterson program this winter (see pages 9 and 10). You’ll be amazed at how romantic life can be for a newt living in the safety of our parks. calories. Weightlifting is good too. The more muscle you have, the more calories you burn. In Tune with Your Body – try yoga, swimming, dance, and martial Spring and Summer arts as they use the whole body. A Park District naturalist Improving or Maintaining Health leads a program exploring – Exercise regularly, aim for 30 to Jobs in the Parks the Bay at Crab Cove. 60 minutes a day. Relieve Stress – The East Bay Regionalegional Try relaxing activities like tai chi Park District offersffers a or yoga. Repetitive exercises such variety of seasonalonal ffull-ull- as running, lap swimming, rowing, time and part-timeime jjobs,obs, or skating work, too. Being including lifeguardsards and Social – Start or join a walking or recreation leaders.ers. jogging club or commit to a series These positionss are n of classes where you get to know on ideal for studentsts lton