Interpretive Pavilion Open at Shadow Cliffs
Pavilion will provide information about recreational opportunities and serve as outdoor visitor center for naturalist-led programs
The East Bay Regional Park District celebrated the opening of a 1,000-square-foot outdoor interpretive pavilion at Shadow Cliffs Regional Recreation Area in Pleasanton today. The new interpretive pavilion will serve as an outdoor visitor center connecting visitors to Shadow Cliffs’ nature area comprised of 116 acres of cottonwood and willow-lined creek open space with a wide array of wildlife.
Shadow Cliffs is best known for its lake and water-based recreational activities, including swimming, fishing, and lakeside picnicking. The pavilion will help introduce visitors to the other activities available at the park.
“Shadow Cliffs’ nature area is a hidden gem in the Tri-Valley,” said Park District Board Director Ayn Wieskamp. “The new interpretive pavilion will help inform and connect visitors to the little-known nature area and all of the recreational opportunities available there, including trails for hiking, biking, and nature watching.”
Thousands of school children also visit Shadow Cliffs each year to participate in naturalist-led programs. The nature pavilion will serve as a gathering spot for those programs and allow the Park District to serve even more children each year.
“The nature pavilion is an important new facility that helps advance the Park District’s mission of providing healthy recreational opportunities and environmental education,” said General Manager Sabrina Landreth. “We are proud to provide yet another improvement and enhanced experience for the community.”
The new pavilion includes educational exhibits highlighting the natural and cultural history of the park, and local wildlife, as well as park maps and information about recreational activities.
The Interpretive Pavilion was made possible by state and non-profit funding and individual donations, including support from California State Parks, a lead gift of $200,000 from Nancy and Gary Harrington of Pleasanton, funding from the Regional Parks Foundation, and a generous grant from the Wayne and Gladys Valley Foundation.
“Shadow Cliffs is a small regional park, but overflowing with opportunities to experience and learn about nature,” said Gary Harrington. “As former educators, Nancy and I understand the value of hands-on learning and saw an outdoor pavilion as a way to encourage visitors to explore nature in the park and help create a place where school-age children could learn about nature, wildlife, and the environment.”
The pavilion will be used as a gathering spot for weekend interpretive programs starting in January 2023 and school programs in fall 2023.
Shadow Cliffs is open 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. November through February, 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. May through Labor Day, and 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. Labor Day to October. Parking is $6 per vehicle and there is a $2 fee per dog.
The East Bay Regional Park District is the largest regional park system in the nation, comprising 73 parks, 55 miles of shoreline, and over 1,300 miles of trails for hiking, biking, horseback riding, and environmental education. The Park District receives more than 25 million visits annually throughout Alameda and Contra Costa counties in the San Francisco Bay Area.
