Shore Lines News from Citizens for East Shore Parks Fall 2008 Yes on Measure WW means Yes for Parks! Measure WW — EBRPD open space bond measure extension In November voters in The extension will authorize Alameda and Contra Costa another 20 years of continued counties will again have a funding for 67 current and future parks, open space, and chance to Say Yes to Parks! projects. Of the revenue Measure WW will preserve raised, 25 percent will benefit vanishing open space and shore- local parks and recreation line and help communities meet projects, while 75 percent will their recreational needs. fund regional park acquisition and development, open space In 1988 voters approved bond preservation, and habitat Measure AA, which allowed the restoration. • San Pablo Bay Shoreline (above): East Bay Regional Park District CESP is particularly focused on $855,000 to acquire, restore, and to establish our current network the following shoreline areas: provide public access. of parklands, recognized as one Although public support for Mea- of the best of any urban region • Eastshore State Park: $27 sure WW is already high, the in the U.S. million to restore and expand while completing segments of proposition requires a 2/3 YES vote That measure provided funds to the Bay Trail from Alameda and Contra Costa secure 34,000 acres, created 17 • Point San Pablo/Point Molate: County residents to pass. new parks and facilities, and $4.5 million to acquire and CESP strongly supports the con- added more than 100 miles of restore the shoreline, complete tinuation of a modest tax that has trails. Since the 1988 measure Bay Trail already been in place for 20 years. In expires this year, future park • North Richmond wetlands: the face of a growing population, projects depend on its extension. $3.6 million to preserve marshes determined developers, and a de- and develop public access for mand for parks and open space, Measure WW will authorize education programs and wildlife Measure WW is vital to preserv- total bond sales of $500 million. viewing ing the East Bay’s precious shore- Importantly, if approved, the • Point Pinole: $7.5 million to line and wildlife habitat. property tax rate will not in- develop new road, parking, More information and updates crease beyond its current tax rate recreational areas, visitor center, of 0.01% per year– $10 per year, about Measure WW are available maintenance facilities; complete at www.YesForParks.org. per $100,000 assessed valuation. park boundary; and restore wetlands The mission of Citizens for East Shore Parks is to preserve and enhance the natural resources, and recreational and educational opportunities of the east shore of San Francisco Bay, creating a necklace of shoreline parks from the Oakland Estuary to the Carquinez Strait. 2 Shore Lines On the Horizon for CESP News from Citizens from Patricia Jones, Executive Director for East Shore Parks Dear Friends of Shoreline Parks! from the Oakland Estuary to the Carquinez PO Box 6087, Albany, CA 94706 Strait? Office: 520 El Cerrito Plaza Welcome to the second edition of our news- [email protected] letter, Shore Lines. In this issue you will find CESP continues its work with Richmond T 510-524-5000 F: 524-5008 news about the work CESP has been doing to community activists to promote parks and www.eastshorepark.org protect our shoreline, what’s on open space as the preferred Dwight Steele the “Horizon” and how you can “I played around our alternative in Richmond’s Emeritus Chair get involved. yard some and talked general plan. City Council (1914 - 2002) will be back in session in But first, I want you to relax to the fence posts, September and will no doubt Robert Cheasty and take your time to think sung songs and made engage the question of President back about how much FUN you the weeds grow…” which option is to be pre- Norman La Force had as a kid playing outside. - Woody Guthrie ferred for developing the Vice President Which visions come to mind? The first required environmental impact report. The Hon. Tom Bates rush of the surf hitting you and the smell of City’s final decision about workshops re- Vice President salt in your nose and mouth? Building a tree quested by the Planning Commission is Sylvia McLaughlin house in the backyard or a fort in the nearby unclear. Secretary trees where you imagined all sorts of sce- narios? Just lying in the grass watching the We are happy to report that our North Doris Sloan flight of dragonflies or lightning bugs? Richmond outreach activities have again been Recording Secretary Perhaps you were more scientific and you supported by Ed Bennett caught tadpoles in the creek and watched grants from the Treasurer them grow. Makes you nostalgic, doesn’t it? San Francisco Foundation and Board of Directors Guess what? Kids today don’t share those the Richard and Teddi Baggins experiences. Many are simply afraid to go Rhoda Goldman Ellen Barth outside and others “experience” nature Fund. Hon. Ken Bukowski through the television or computers. Shirley Dean CESP is especially grateful to Nancy Strauch This conclusion and more compelling infor- for her efforts to secure grant funding for our Patty Donald mation is shared in Richard Louv’s book, Last work to preserve places for kids to play and Whitney Dotson Child in the Woods–Saving Our Children from explore. Arthur Feinstein Nature-Deficit Disorder. The name says it all. Steve Granholm Louv concludes it is “free play” as described There is much more to do, and we cannot do Larry Kolb it without you! Active volunteers are what above that is most beneficial to the mental Vicki Lee development and safety of children in the makes CESP successful. David Lewis modern world. “Natural Our successes also depend upon the financial Mark Liolios play strengthens support we get from our friends. Your tax- Rich McClure children’s self-confi- deductible contributions are crucial to the dence, and arouses their Kitty McLean work that CESP does to create a world- senses–their awareness Hon. Betty Olds class necklace of shoreline parks along of the world and all that Doria Robinson San Francisco Bay. We are grateful for your moves in it, seen and Eli Saddler help. unseen.” Rich Walkling Peter Weiner What better way to facilitate “play” for local children (of all ages) than to achieve CESP’s Executive Director Advisory Board goal to create a necklace of shoreline parks Stana Hearne Samantha Murray Supporting organizations include: Golden Gate Audubon Society • Sierra Club • Save the Bay • NRSOSA Oakland Waterfront Coalition • Berkeley Partners for Parks • California Native Plant Society Nancy Strauch Environmental Defense • Citizens Committee to Complete the Refuge • Friends of Aquatic Park Oceanic Society • Regional Parks Association • Urban Creeks Council • Contra Costa Hills Club Executive Director California State Parks Foundation • Citizens for the Albany Shoreline • Ecology Center Patricia V. Jones Could Golden Gate 3 Fields be sold? by Brian Parker, Albany Waterfront Committee Chair As the City of Albany proceeds with plans to engage the community in a comprehensive Waterfront Visioning Process, Magna Entertainment Corp, the owners of the privately held waterfront lands at Golden Gate Fields, face financial turmoil. According to recent financial disclosures, Magna posted a loss of $21.3 million in the second quarter of 2008, with losses totaling $67.7 million year-to-date, and an accumulated deficit of $577.8 million. For the past year Magna has tried to sell off half of its racetracks to reduce accumulating debt that threatens the corporation’s future. These offerings were characterized as sales of “fringe Albany waterfront planning update assets and smaller tracks”, and Golden by Brian Parker, Albany Waterfront Committee Chair Gate Fields is not among the properties for sale. On July 8th Fern Tiger, principal of As part of the groundwork to craft a Magna’s goal is to sell enough properties Fern Tiger Associates (FTA), presented planning process responsive to to lower the debt to the point they can a progress report to the Albany Water- Albany’s unique local circumstances, handle the remaining payments while front Committee. After only two months they have interviewed 50 people, breaking even. This asset sale plan has on the task, FTA has made substantial including Council members, City staff, been largely unsuccessful because of poor progress on the public phase of the Waterfront Committee members, real estate market conditions. Waterfront Visioning Process. Planning Commissioners, environ- mental and community leaders, and On August 6, Magna announced that The firm has gathered and reviewed other Albany residents. another track sale might be in the offing. earlier plans and City documents, includ- A press release detailing the company’s ing relevant technical studies, meeting FTA has also had discussions with Golden Gate Fields’ local manage- second-quarter financials said that the minutes, and materials from the last ment and is reaching out to meet and sale of certain assets was being “recon- election. sidered,” and it was widely assumed that engage Magna’s corporate leaders. certain previously disclosed tracks Magna In early September FTA will brief the had placed on the market might be Albany’s planning efforts are driven by City Council and the Albany Water- withdrawn. Frank Stronach, Interim a deep concern that new development front Committee on additional details CEO and controlling shareholder of plans will be proposed by Magna for of planned work. They will continue Magna, instead said the company might Golden Gate Fields or grow out of its outreach to the community and City be willing to sell up to 60% of Santa sale to another owner.