New Name for Willow Park Golf Course

Redwood Canyon Public Golf Course. Photo by Steve Falzone
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This gorgeous slice of heaven in Castro Valley has a new name. Willow Park Golf Course is now Redwood Canyon Public Golf Course.

“The community has been looking forward to this. It’s not the end of the process, but it’s a very good start,” said Board member Dennis Waespi, whose district includes the picturesque 130-acre golf course near Lake Chabot. “We’re looking forward to a bright future for the golf course and event center in Castro Valley.”

The name change settled a dispute between the Park District and the former operators of Willow Park, whose 50-year lease expired in November 2014. As part of the settlement, the District agreed to rename the course by April 1, 2015.

The name was chosen because the course lies at the southern end of Redwood Canyon, which was once home to thousands of old-growth redwood trees before they were logged in the 1800s. Large, lush forests of second-growth redwoods now thrive in the northern end of the 10-mile canyon.

The Park District has planted dozens of redwoods in the golf course area and intends to plant more, in an effort to bring the majestic trees back to the Castro Valley hills.

The golf course is already home to oaks, willows, wildlife and San Leandro Creek.

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