Many years ago, finding a truly barrier free park or trail with accessible facilities would have been quite difficult, if not nearly impossible. However, the East Bay Regional Park District along with many other agencies has placed accessibility as a very high priority. Working with consultants and experts in ADA issues, the Park District is continually making strides in recognizing and removing barriers so that everyone can find a welcoming trail, go to a beach, learn to fish, or take part in an interpretive program. Today, miles and miles of paved regional trails and multi-use trails, along with many recreational opportunities, are accessible right here in the East Bay. Below are just a few exciting ways to discover something new close to home:

Trail Accessibility Reports -- In 2006, the Park District created a website link to our most popular trails as determined by users including input from those with physical limitations. Trail Accessibility Reports were created from this data to better help park visitors determine physical components of each trail. The reports contain information related to trail length, type, uses, a short description, cumulative elevation change, typical grade and surface, and any hazards or obstructions. The goal is to provide valuable information so that park users can judge for themselves whether a particular trail is suitable to meet their needs. With over 1,200 miles of trails, this project is a true work-in-progress and will be updated continuously throughout the years.

A Wheelchair Rider's Guide to the San Fancisco Bay and Nearby Coast –- This revised guidebook was just released by the Coastal Conservancy in May 2006. It is everything one could hope for in discovering accessible parks, trails, and beaches along the coast. Divided by region, the guide gives driving directions, trail descriptions, difficulty level, facilities available, interesting historic facts, wildlife viewing opportunities and lots more. The book was published through a grant from the Coastal Conservancy, a state agency working to protect and restore coastal resources and improve access along the coast and bay. This guide is available free of charge by calling 510-286-1015 and also on the Coastal Conservancy website: www.scc.ca.gov. There is a similar guide for Southern California.

Beach, pool, playground access -- The East Bay Regional Park District operates Crown Memorial State Beach in Alameda along with beaches and swim areas at seven East Bay lakes including Contra Loma in Antioch, Shadow Cliffs in Pleasanton, and Del Valle in Livermore. The Operations staff now offers beach wheelchairs at four Regional Parks swimming lakes and one state beach. Beach wheelchairs are known as adaptive recreation items so those with specific needs can enjoy the same facilities as others. Beach wheelchairs are sturdy chairs with balloon wheel that can easily go over sand. They can’t go in the water and need to be pushed by someone, but make traveling over a sandy beach so much easier. They are available on a first-come basis.

Roberts Regional Recreation Area in the Oakland hills is home to the only specially designed barrier free playground in the Bay Area and one of the largest playgrounds of its kind in the state. The Park District partnering with Downtown Oakland Rotary 3 created a place where all kids can play together, no matter what their limits. Next to the playground is the Roberts pool complex which features a heated swimming pool that is fully accessible to individuals with disabilities, including the bathhouse and a lift into the pool. Those who wish to swim are welcome during regular pool hours. On Mondays from 12:30 – 3:00 pm the pool is available only for the disabled community. In addition, Roberts is a lovely picnic spot enabling visitors to drive right into the redwood forest.

New Disabled Fishing Pier at Quarry Lakes -- Unveiled in 2006 is the new $1.5 million accessible fishing pier at Quarry Lakes in Fremont. The pier juts far into Horseshoe Lake, one of Quarry’s three lakes, to provide superb fishing opportunities or just a chance to get out onto the water. Quarry Lakes opened in 1998 is one of the East Bay Regional Park District’s newest facilities with picnicking and a swim beach along with barrier free trails. The two fishing lakes are regularly stocked with rainbow trout and channel catfish.

Recreation Programs -- The majority of the Park District’s recreation programs are accessible. Every two months, the District’s activity guide titled Regional in Nature lists dozens of programs ranging from outdoor photography, introduction to fishing, nature study programs, children’s summer day camps, and much more. The guide can be reviewed online at www.ebparks.org or can be requested via mail by calling 1-888-EBPARKS or 1-888-327-2757 (press option 5, then 2, then 1) or the District’s TDD Line at 510-633-0460. When registering for a program, be sure to indicate any special need requirements.

Progress has been made in the last decade but there is still much left to be done. In 2003 the Park District began an extensive evaluation of park facilities to identify accessibility barriers. Over 80 members of our park staff including managers, rangers, interpretive staff, and supervisors were involved in this review and analysis. In addition the Park District retained an outside consulting firm with specific expertise in ADA issues to undertake site specific reviews of all facilities and evaluate them under guidelines established by the federal government. Findings were presented in early 2006. The District is now beginning the long term process to address priority projects across the parks.

The East Bay Regional Park District is the largest local park agency in the United States with 65 parks on over 97,000 acres and 1,200 miles of trails in Alameda and Contra Costa counties. Back to top