East Bay Regional Park District facts for kids

Quick facts for kids East Bay Regional Park District
Type	Special district
Location	East Bay in the San Francisco Bay Area in California, United States
Area	124,909 acres (50,549 ha)
Created	1934

The East Bay Regional Park District (often called EBRPD) is a special group that runs a huge system of parks in California. It operates in Alameda and Contra Costa counties, which are part of the San Francisco Bay Area. It is the largest urban regional park system in the United States.

The district looks after 73 parks, covering a massive area of over 124,000 acres. It also maintains more than 1,330 miles of trails. That's like walking from San Francisco to Denver!

These parks offer all sorts of fun activities. Some are wild nature areas, while others have places for swimming, boating, and camping. The trails are perfect for biking, hiking, and horse riding. There are also over 200 miles of paved trails that connect the parks through different towns.

History of the Parks

Why the Park District Was Created

The story of the park district begins with a big fire. In 1923, a grass fire in Wildcat Canyon spread into the city of Berkeley. It burned down hundreds of homes. People were upset because there wasn't enough water to fight the fire properly.

At the time, many small, private water companies served the area. They couldn't supply enough water during the emergency. To solve this problem, a new public group called the East Bay Municipal District (EBMUD) was formed. It brought a more reliable water supply to the community.

The First Parks

In 1930, experts suggested creating a system of parks for people in the East Bay to enjoy. This led to the creation of the East Bay Regional Park District in 1934.

Two years later, the district got its first piece of land. The water company, EBMUD, sold over 2,000 acres of land it no longer needed. This land became the first regional parks. People like Robert Sibley, who loved hiking, and Charles Lee Tilden helped start the district.

2020 California Wildfires

In August 2020, major wildfires spread across the Bay Area. The smoke was so thick that it covered the sky. For safety, all of the East Bay Regional Parks had to close temporarily until the danger passed.

Cool Parks to Visit

The park district has many different kinds of parks. Some of the most popular ones are located along the hills east of Berkeley and Oakland. These include Tilden Regional Park, Redwood Regional Park, and the Robert Sibley Volcanic Regional Preserve.

• Tilden Regional Park is one of the oldest and most famous parks. It has a carousel, a steam train, and a farm with animals.
• Redwood Regional Park is special because it has the largest remaining natural forest of coast redwood trees in the East Bay. Some of these giant trees are hundreds of years old.
• Robert Sibley Volcanic Regional Preserve is located on an extinct volcano! You can hike to the top and see amazing views.
• Coyote Hills Regional Park is on the shore of the bay. It's a great place for bird watching and learning about the history of the native Ohlone people.
• Black Diamond Mines Regional Preserve lets you explore the history of coal mining in the area.

How the Park District Grows

The EBRPD is always working to add more land to protect nature and create new parks. This land is often kept as "land banks," which means it is saved for future use. It can take many years to turn this land into a park that people can visit.

For example, the district has been working to create the new Deer Valley Regional Park near the cities of Antioch and Brentwood. It bought several large pieces of land, including a former ranch. This will protect the homes of animals like the red-legged frog and create new trails for hiking.

Another park, Vargas Plateau Regional Park, had a tricky start. It opened in 2016 but had to close just a few months later. There was a disagreement with nearby landowners about the road leading to the park. After fixing the road, the park reopened in 2017 for everyone to enjoy.

List of Parks

Here is a list of all the parks managed by the district.

Trails Connecting the Parks

These special trails, called Interpark Regional Trails, link different parks together. They often follow creeks or streets, helping you travel from one park to another.

See also

In Spanish: Distrito de Parques Regionales del Este de la Bahía para niños