Richmond Heights, Richmond, California facts for kids
Richmond Heights is a cool neighborhood in eastern Richmond, California. It's part of the big San Francisco Bay Area. This area used to be called East Richmond. Some people also know it as Mira Vista.
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Where is Richmond Heights?
Richmond Heights is surrounded by other places. To the west, you'll find the North & East neighborhood. The city of San Pablo is to the north. To the east is East Richmond Heights. And to the south is the city of El Cerrito.
What's in a Name?
The name Mira Vista means "Look at the view" in Spanish. This old name is still used for the eastern part of the city. You can even find a Mira Vista Post Office nearby. The part of the neighborhood west of the I-80 freeway is called Humboldt Park.
Parks and Green Spaces
Richmond Heights has several small community parks.
- Mira Vista Park is on Mount St.
- Tiller Park has a baseball field and tennis courts. You can find it near Sierra and Ventura.
- Humboldt Park is about 0.4 acres (1,618 square meters).
- Kern Playlot is smaller, about 0.3 acres (1,214 square meters).
Both Humboldt Park and Kern Playlot have fun play structures. Humboldt Park also has basketball courts. A special project is turning a nearby empty lot into a community farm. This farm will grow fresh food for local people.
Important Services
Schools in the Area
Richmond Heights has good schools for kids and adults.
- Mira Vista Elementary is a K-8 school. This means it teaches kids from kindergarten to eighth grade.
- Riverside Elementary School is also here. Both are part of the West Contra Costa Unified School District.
- The private Catholic Saint David School is in the northern part of the neighborhood. It's connected to Saint David Catholic Church.
- Serra Adult School helps adults learn new skills. It's also the main office for the Richmond Heights Neighborhood Council.
Staying Healthy
The eastern part of Richmond, including Richmond Heights, has good healthcare options. It's known for having affordable and easy-to-reach medical services.
Getting Around
Roads and Highways
Interstate 80 (I-80) runs right through Richmond Heights. You can get on or off the freeway at MacBryde and Solano Avenues. San Pablo Avenue is the main street for shopping and businesses. MacBryde and Solano are also important roads that connect to I-80.
A special path for bikes, the I-80/Hercules bikeway, goes through the neighborhood. It starts near El Cerrito and goes along Humboldt Street. This path connects to the El Cerrito del Norte BART station and the Ohlone Greenway to the south. It also goes north towards Hercules.
Public Transportation
AC Transit provides bus services in Richmond Heights along San Pablo Avenue. These buses help people get around the community and to other cities.
- Route 72 is a local bus. It goes to Contra Costa College and Hilltop Mall. It also travels south to the El Cerrito del Norte BART station. From there, you can go to El Cerrito, Berkeley, and Oakland.
- Route 72R is a faster bus line. It has a stop at San Pablo and Garvin. This bus also connects Contra Costa College to Oakland.
- Line L is for commuters. It takes people to or from the San Francisco Transbay Terminal in San Francisco.
- School lines 683 and 684 help students get to LeVonya DeJean and Portola Middle School, and El Cerrito High School.
How the Area is Used
Homes and Businesses
Richmond Heights is mostly a residential area. This means you'll find many single-family homes here. There are also some two-story apartment buildings. Most of the neighborhood is set up for homes. However, areas along Humboldt Street are for local shops. The San Pablo Avenue area is for general businesses. Some small areas are for parks or public buildings like schools.
Food and Shopping
San Pablo Avenue has many small businesses. You can find all kinds of restaurants there! There are Indian, Chinese, Vietnamese, Thai, Nicaraguan, Cajun, Mexican, and American food places. There are also fast food options. This variety has given the area a fun nickname: a low-priced "gourmet ghetto." This means you can find lots of different, delicious, and affordable food.
There are about 30 businesses in the area. Most are small or medium-sized shops. You can also find offices for apartments, insurance, banks, grocery stores, and car dealers. The city helps businesses on San Pablo Avenue improve their storefronts. They offer grants of US$20,000. Businesses don't have to pay this money back if they stay open for five years.
