Date approved
November 1988
Timeline
20-years (1988-2008)
Amount of bonds financed
$225 million
Acreage of open space promised
25,000 acres
Acreage of open space added
34,000 acres (200 individual acquisitions)
Miles of regional trails added
Over 100 miles
Doubled funding
Successfully leveraged Measure AA's initial bond funding through dollar-for-dollar federal and state matching funds, effectively doubling the yield from Measure AA – at no additional cost to East Bay taxpayers.
Land acquisition
Appropriated over $116 million in AA funds for open space land acquisition and attracted an additional $88 million in matching funds.
Park improvements
Appropriated $44 million in capital funds for park improvements and attracted an additional $71 million in matching funds. (148 projects completed or in progress)
Community projects
$56 million for 235 accessible local parks and recreation facilities to serve the growing population in virtually every East Bay community; $4 million for the Oakland Zoo.
Tax savings
Refinanced the existing Measure AA bonds at a lower interest rate, saving taxpayers more than $14 million over the life of the bonds, or over $8.5 million in
present value savings.
In 1988, with increased urbanization in the East Bay and skyrocketing land prices, EBRPD struggled to keep pace with the growing population. With their commitment to open space and regional parks, over two-thirds of the voters in Alameda and Contra Costa counties voted for Measure AA - a $225 million bond measure. Passage of Measure AA provided funding the acquisition and preservation of 34,000 acres of some of the most beautiful and pristine East Bay land. The result is the present network of parks, open space lands, and trails, recognized as one of the best examples of integrated parklands in any urban region in the United States.
Leverage: Since Measure AA's passage, EBRPD has more than doubled the investment by leveraging money to secure over $49 million of matching funds from other public agencies and private donors at no additional cost to taxpayers. In addition, EBRPD officials have strategically refinanced existing Measure AA bonds at lower interest rates, saving taxpayers more than $14 million over the life of the bonds.
Community Support: With about 25 percent of Measure AA funds allocated toward local park projects, EBRPD has funded close to $60 million worth of recreational needs for every city in its jurisdiction, including restoring swimming pools, sports fields, playgrounds, and community and senior centers.
These regional parks, shorelines, visitor centers, trails, recreation areas, and wetlands benefited from Measure AA - either through additional land acquisition or capital improvements.
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