Park Happenings for June

(Please feel free to use excerpts. Photos available at https://bit.ly/ParkHappeningsforJune)

Image

🚨🚒Big news for wildfire safety! The East Bay Regional Park District is investing $10.9 million over three years to reduce wildfire risk across more than 600 acres in Anthony Chabot, Tilden, and Wildcat Canyon Regional Parks, Claremont Canyon Regional Preserve, and Carquinez Strait Regional Shoreline—removing hazardous vegetation and dead and dying trees, including eucalyptus.

The $10.9 million includes $8.3 million in grants and $2.6 million in matching funds from the Park District. Grant funds include $6.1 million from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), $2.1 million from the California State Coastal Conservancy, and $100,000 from the U.S. Forest Service. FEMA funding was secured with help from U.S. Sen. Alex Padilla and U.S. Rep. Eric Swalwell in 2023 and 2024.

This work is in addition to ongoing districtwide fuels reduction work, including large-scale projects at Anthony Chabot Regional Park (544 acres) and Tilden Regional Park (39 acres), a 16-person year-round fuels reduction crew, and annual goat, sheep, and cattle grazing. More than 86,800 acres of the Park District’s 126,809 acres are grazed annually by cattle, sheep, or goats.

––––––––––

🏞️Learn about the Park District with the District Plan InfoMap. The East Bay Regional Park District is embarking on a bold new journey—developing a District Plan to guide the future of Regional Parks. Explore the Park District’s lands, facilities, and communities through the District Plan InfoMap—a key tool in our planning process. Learn about who lives in the District, where parks are located, and how people access the parks. View the InfoMap at ebparks.org/district-plan#learn.

––––––––––

🌈Pride in the Park event at Tilden. Head to Tilden Nature Area on Saturday, June 7,  from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. for the third annual Pride in the Park event, a fun, family-friendly, FREE day in the park to kick off Pride Month. Bring a picnic and enjoy activities, crafts, and community vendors in this beautiful natural setting next to the Little Farm. All are welcome. For more information, visit ebparks.org/parks/visitor-centers/tilden-nature-area-eec.

––––––––––

🥾Trails Challenge hike at Sibley. Join a naturalist-led hike on one of the scenic routes in this year’s Trails Challenge, offered on Wednesday, June 11, from 9:30 a.m. to noon. This trek at Sibley Volcanic Regional Preserve showcases the largest creek restoration project in the Park District's history.

The restored area, which includes water quality and streamflow improvements, provides natural habitat for special status or protected native species, like the California red-legged frog, Alameda whipsnake, Cooper’s hawk,  and provides new habitat for rainbow trout.

The 4.12-mile hike is rated moderate with about 843 feet of elevation gain. Dogs are not allowed in the newly restored area of Sibley. Parking is limited, so please carpool. Trails Challenge shirts, guidebooks, and bandanas will be available while supplies last. For more information, visit ebparks.org/trails-challenge.

––––––––––

♿All Abilities Day at Crab Cove: June 14. Join people of all ages and abilities at Doug Siden Visitor Center at Crab Cove on Saturday, June 14, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. for All Abilities Day! Explore the park and participate in hands-on nature crafts, multi-sensory activities, meet animals, and take guided tours.

This year the Park District is partnering with NatureTrack and BORP Adapted Sports & Recreation to provide individuals with mobility and vision disabilities the opportunity to explore and traverse the beach independently using a Freedom Trax device, which enables a standard personal wheelchair to function on off-road terrain. There is no fee. Reservations are required. Freedom Trax reservation times are 11 a.m., noon, and 1 p.m. For more information, visit ebparks.org/parks/visitor-centers/crab-cove.

––––––––––

‍🌾Historic Hay Harvest Days at Ardenwood Farm. Join the fun at Ardenwood Historic Farm's old-fashioned hay harvest! Help load the freshly mown hay and haul it back to build a big stack. Discover the difference between hay and straw while bringing in this year’s crop. Hay Harvest Days take place on three Sundays in June: June 8, 15, and 22. Ardenwood admission fee applies. No registration is required. For more information, visit ebparks.org/parks/visitor-centers/ardenwood.

––––––––––

🙌🏾Celebrate Juneteenth with FREE Park Day and programs. The Park District is celebrating Juneteenth with a Free Park Day and special naturalist-led programs on Wednesday, June 19, which is a state and federal holiday. Juneteenth is the oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of the ending of slavery in the United States. Join the District in celebrating and reflecting on the contributions and accomplishments of Black individuals throughout history, particularly in the realms of environmental science and conservation. All are welcome!

Fees waived on Juneteenth include park entrance, parking,  horses, boat launching, and fishing. The fee waiver does not apply to swimming, camping, and reservable picnic facilities due to capacity limits, concessions, state fees for fishing licenses, and watercraft inspections for invasive mussels.

For more information, visit ebparks.org/we-celebrate/juneteenth.

––––––––––

🐥Return of the Terns Nature Experience on June 28. Enjoy a special day dedicated to the endangered California least tern! Learn about their fascinating behaviors and success at the largest colony in the northernmost part of Central California.

Reserve your spot to view the nest site teeming with hundreds of pairs of terns and their chicks, accessible only by bus (space is limited), which leaves from the Doug Siden Visitor Center at Crab Cove. Reservations are required. Bus times are 11 a.m., 12:15 p.m., and 1:30 p.m. For more information, visit ebparks.org/parks/visitor-centers/crab-cove.

––––––––––