New Trail Expansion Brings Improved Safety And Access To Shoreline

Press release from The East Bay Regional Park District:

ALAMEDA, CA — The San Francisco Bay Trail Gap and Improvements Project was officially opened Monday at Oakland’s Martin Luther King Jr. Regional Shoreline with a special ribbon-cutting ceremony. The project took nearly a decade to complete and was made possible by the ongoing partnership between the East Bay Regional Park District, Caltrans, and the Port of Oakland.

“The Park District is proud to showcase the most recent improvements to this park,” said General Manager Sabrina Landreth. “The completed project provides safer access to the park, the Bay Trail, and the waters of San Leandro Bay for the community who live closest to it and those who spend time there, while also improving nearby natural habitat.”

Bridging the gap on this section of the San Francisco Bay Trail provides safer passage for trail users, who can now walk, ride or roll on 2,300 feet of new paved trail. This segment closes a half-mile gap in the Bay Trail and greatly improves safety for pedestrians and bicyclists by eliminating the need to use the shoulder of busy Doolittle Drive. The SF Bay Trail is a planned 500-mile walking and cycling path around the entire San Francisco Bay.

The project also upgraded the boat launch staging area adjacent to the trail, including a repaved staging area parking lot, renovated ADA-accessible boat, kayak and paddleboard launch area, enhancing recreational opportunities and access to the shoreline for neighboring communities. The project also restored one acre of marsh habitat.

“Martin Luther King Jr. Regional Shoreline is a beautiful space in the middle of our urban landscape,” said East Bay Regional Park District Board Member Ellen Corbett. “It’s a place where people can take a hike, walk their dog, have a picnic, go birdwatching, and can now enjoy enhanced access to the SF Bay Trail and Bay Water Trail.”

The San Francisco Bay Trail Gap and Improvements Project was made possible through funding from the California Department of Transportation, Alameda County Transportation Commission, California Natural Resources Agency Urban Green Infrastructure Program (Proposition 68), Wildlife Conservation Board, Measure CC, and the Park District.

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.

This press release was produced by The East Bay Regional Park District. The views expressed here are the author’s own.