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The email below from Citizens for East Shore Parks
summarizes a critical funding package that East Bay Regional Park
District (EBRPD) has assembled to restore the former Breuner Marsh as
part of a project to provide needed Bay Trail access to Point Pinole
Regional Shoreline from the south via Goodrick Avenue. Although the
largest shoreline park in the entire Bay area, Point
Pinole remains as the only shoreline park in Richmond completely
isolated from the San Francisco Bay Trail for community hiking and
biking access. EBRPD is working to remedy this by also providing
convenient Bay Trail access from the Hilltop residential area to the
east via Atlas Road and from the City of Pinole to the north with
funding you approved in voting for both Measures CC and WW.
See the Richmond
Bay Trail MId Year Report for more information and the Richmond
Bay Trail Map to better understand these major gaps in the San
Francisco Bay Trail.
TRAC Steering Committee
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tracbaytrail@earthlink.net
phone/fax 510-235-2835
http://www.pointrichmond.com/baytrail/
http://www.ci.richmond.ca.us/TRAC
http://www.explorerichmondca.com/baytrail.htm
Bruener Marsh
Restoration Funds To Be Approved
On April 20, 2009, the East Bay Regional Park District in cooperation
with federal, state and local agencies reached a tentative arrangement
that would provide $3 million for tidal wetland restoration on the
218-acre Breuner Property on the North Richmond Shoreline. Citizens for
East Shore Parks (CESP) has long fought for mitigation funds to be spent
in Richmond and is excited that restoration of this jewel of the
Richmond shoreline will soon begin.
This funding will pay for the planning and construction of the first
phase of the project (construction to begin in 2012), which includes
restoration of up to 45 acres of tidal wetlands. The total project will
restore about 100 acres of wetland and grassland habitat for a number of
plants and animals, including the endangered California clapper rail.
The project would also enhance Rheem Creek, and potentially restore it
to its historic alignment.
Public access improvements could include a new staging area near
Goodrick Avenue, trail access to the San Francisco Bay, and closure of a
key gap in the San Francisco Bay Trail connecting North Richmond with
Point Pinole Regional Shoreline.
The Richmond community, in particular nearby Parchester Village, has
been very supportive of the acquisition and restoration of the Breuner
Property. Park District Director Whitney Dotson, who lives in Parchester
Village, notes that he is very excited about this funding opportunity
and the benefit to the nearby marsh, creek, and Richmond community. "I'd
like to see the remaining non-developed portions of the North Richmond
shoreline eventually protected and restored too. This success at Breuner
Marsh is an important first step in achieving that goal," states Dotson.
Funding comes from three separate sources: restoration funds from a
tentative settlement of Castro Cove (Chevron) natural resource damage
assessments, state and federal grant programs, and Measure WW bond
funding that was approved by voters in November of 2008.
For more info see CESP website:
www.eastshorepark.org
UPCOMING EVENTS:
Wildcat Creek Regional Trail - Richmond
Saturday, July 25th 9-Noon
Come learn about the Wildcat Creek watershed, and take action by
cleaning our community’s waterways.
All creek clean-up supplies will be provided. Please bring water,
sunscreen, and wear layered clothing and closed-toe shoes that can get
wet and dirty.
For more information including directions to the site please contact
Juliana Gonzalez (@ the Watershed Project): (510) 665-3597.RSVP required
by Thursday, July 23rd.
Stay tuned for upcoming events:
September 13 — Solano Stroll
September 19 — Coastal Clean-up
September 26 — North Richmond Shoreline Festival
October 2-4 — Richmond’s Homefront Festival
--
Jonathan Dinu
Member Outreach Intern
Citizens for East Shore Parks
P.O. Box 6087
Albany, CA 94706
(510) 524-5000
www.eastshorepark.org |
