From Friends of the Bay Trail in Richmond:

Fantastic news! The City of Richmond and East Bay Regional Park District (EBRPD) have been awarded $2.2 million for building 2.5 miles of Bay Trail along the shoreline from the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge Trail to the northern border of the City’s Point Molate property at Stenmark Drive. For details, see the CA Natural Resources Agency press release below about award of these Prop. 68 Recreational Trails & Greenways program grants.

These grants complete funding for construction of this $6.5 million project when combined with Plan Bay Area Priority Conservation Area grants of $2.2 million, EBRPD funds from Measures CC, FF & WW, and funds provided to the City by Chevron in 2009 as settlement of litigation over underpayment of utility user taxes. EBRPD has funded design plans now at the 65% preliminary stage, approved a Mitigated Negative Declaration under CEQA and applied for the major permits required. Construction should be completed by the end of 2021.

This will be more than a multi-use trail. It will provide the first public access to this shoreline, other than Point Molate Beach Park, since the Huichin tribe of Ohlones dwelled on this stretch of San Francisco Bay shoreline. The first mile of trail from the RSR Bridge will follow a shoreline easement granted by Chevron to EBRPD, while the remaining 1.5 miles will be on the City’s Point Molate property. 

See TRAC’s website for more information about Bay Trail plans for the Point San Pablo Peninsula.

Bruce

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Bruce Beyaert, TRAC Chair
tracbaytrail@earthlink.net
tel. 510-235-2835
http://www.pointrichmond.com/baytrail/
http://www.ci.richmond.ca.us/109/TRAC
Photos: https://sfbaytrailinrichmond.shutterfly.com/pictures/5 . 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Contacts:
Lisa Lien-Mager, California Natural Resources Agency
(916) 407-6279 Lisa.Lien-Mager@resources.ca.gov

December 7, 2020

Natural Resources Agency Awards Grants to Expand Access to the Outdoors and Enhance Recreational Opportunities Across the State

SACRAMENTO – The California Natural Resources Agency today announced $27.7 million in funding for projects that will expand access to the outdoors and boost recreational opportunities for communities across the state.
The funding will support 19 projects, 12 of which are in disadvantaged communities, ranging from constructing new trails to planting trees to acquiring land for future trails. The grants are part of the the Recreational Trails and Greenways grant program funded by Proposition 68.
"Increased access to our natural spaces is more important than ever. These multi-benefit projects not only enhance recreational opportunities but increase access which can improve physical and mental health," California Secretary for Natural Resources Wade Crowfoot said. "We are excited to award these grants to support organizations and local governments that are committed to expanding and improving access to the outdoors.” 
In 2018, California voters passed the California Drought, Water, Parks, Climate, Coastal Protection, and Outdoor Access for All Act of 2018 (Proposition 68), which directed $27.7 million to the Natural Resources Agency for competitive grants that provide non-motorized infrastructure development and enhancements that promote new or alternate access to parks, waterways, outdoor recreational pursuits, and forested or other natural environments to encourage health-related active transportation and opportunities for Californians to reconnect with nature. 
A few projects are highlighted below, with the full list of projects following.
The Riverside County Habitat Conservation Agency was awarded $609,233 to develop a recreational trail and trailhead at the protected 250-acre Steele Peak Reserve. The project represents the first recreational park opportunity in the area by providing access to protected land.
The Paradise Recreation and Park District was awarded $507,392 to construct a multi-use natural surface trail loop to connect a disadvantaged community to recreational resources. The project will provide an amenity that helps promote healing through nature in a community traumatized by the Camp Fire. 
National City was awarded $1.6 million to convert an existing roadway into a Class 1 bikeway and pedestrian path providing access to multiple recreational opportunities. The project will transform this segment into an active transportation and recreational space for public use.
FULL LIST OF AWARDS
Butte County:

• Paradise Recreation and Park District, $507,392, Magalia and Paradise Lake Loop and Butte County Rail Trail Project.

Contra Costa County:

• City of Richmond, $1,000,000, Point Molate Bay Trail.
• East Bay Regional Park District, $1,202,830, Bridge to Beach - Extension of the San Francisco Bay Trail at Point Molate. 

El Dorado County:

• American River Conservancy, $504,550, Cosumnes River Recreational Trail System.

Humboldt County:

• The Trust for Public Land, $3,877,928, McKinleyville Community Forest.

Imperial County:

• City of Holtville, $1,262,000, The Alamo River Trail Trestle Bridge Trail.

Kern County:

• National Audubon Society, Audubon California, $348,524, Kern River Preserve Trails and Trailhead Project.

Monterey County:

• City of Pacific Grove, $381,922, Point Pinos Trail Project.

Placer County:

• Placer County Department of Public Works, $3,027,090, Hidden Falls Regional Park Trails and Open Space Expansion Project.

Plumas County:

• Feather River Land Trust, $1,621,000, Sierra Valley Wetlands Public Access Project.

Riverside County:

• Riverside County Habitat Conservation Agency, $609,233, Steele Peak Reserve Inaugural Trail.

San Bernardino County:

• City of Twentynine Palms, $901,850, Twentynine Palms Flood Control Channel Trail Development.

San Diego County:

• City of National City, $1,659,680, W. 19th Street Greenway.
• San Dieguito River Park Joint Powers Authority, $1,397,800, Osuna Segment of the Coast to Crest Trail.

San Luis Obispo County:

• County of San Luis Obispo, $3,146,800, Yerba Buena Creek Trail Segment of the Juan Bautista de Anza Trail.

Santa Cruz County:

• Land Trust of Santa Cruz County, $2,050,000, San Vicente Redwoods Public Access Trails Construction, Phase 1.

Siskiyou County:

• Mount Shasta Trail Association, $1,114,906, Gateway Trail Project.

Stanislaus County:

• City of Modesto, $2,968,885, TRRP Riverwalk - Gateway to Neece Dr.

Ventura County:

• Ojai Valley Land Conservancy, $167,610, Ojai Meadows Preserve Bridge.

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