Roberts Regional Recreation Area facts for kids

Roberts Regional Recreation Area (often called RRRA) is a fun park right next to Redwood Regional Park. It's located in Alameda County, near Oakland. This park is part of the East Bay Regional Parks, which manages many great outdoor spaces.

Roberts Regional Recreation Area is a wonderful place for families and friends to enjoy nature. It has lots of picnic tables, a playground for kids, and a swimming pool that's open during warmer months. It's a perfect spot to spend a day outdoors!

Park History: Trees and Sailors

This plaque in Roberts Park tells the story of the "Blossom Rock Navigation Trees."

Did you know that Roberts Regional Recreation Area has a cool historical secret? It's home to California Historical Landmark #962, which tells the story of the "Blossom Rock Navigation Trees." These weren't just any trees!

Long ago, in the early 1800s, two very tall redwood trees in this area helped sailors. When ships entered San Francisco Bay, they needed to avoid a hidden rock called Blossom Rock. This rock was underwater between Alcatraz Island, Yerba Buena Island, and the Port of San Francisco. Sailors used the two prominent redwood trees as natural landmarks. By lining up the trees, they knew exactly how to steer their ships to avoid hitting the dangerous rock.

The rock was first discovered by a British sea captain in 1827. Sadly, the special "Navigation Trees" were cut down between 1851 and 1855. But don't worry, the rock was finally removed in 1870 by engineers using drilling and blasting.

The redwood trees you see in Roberts and Redwood parks today are "second growth." This means they grew after the original, giant redwood forests were cut down between 1840 and 1860. Those older trees were used to build homes and businesses during the California Gold Rush, when many people moved to San Francisco and Oakland.

Roberts Regional Recreation Area first opened its doors to the public in 1952. It was named after Thomas J. "Tommy" Roberts. He worked for the East Bay Regional Park District for many years, helping to make these parks great places for everyone.

Fun Things to Do at Roberts Park

Roberts Regional Recreation Area is open every day of the year, starting at 8:00 AM. The closing time changes depending on the season, usually between 5:00 PM and 8:00 PM. Sometimes, the park might close early if the weather gets bad or if there aren't many visitors. There's a small fee for parking your car, trailer, or bus.

If you bring your dog, make sure they are on a leash inside the park. Guide and service dogs can enter for free. For other dogs, there's a small fee.

Picnicking: Enjoy a Meal Outdoors

Roberts Park is a fantastic place for a picnic! There are eight picnic areas you can reserve for groups in the main part of the park. Each spot has tables, cooking areas, barbecue pits, and drinking fountains.

Here are some of the picnic areas and how many people they can hold:

• Bay Vista (up to 300 people)
• Manzanita (up to 300 people)
• Diablo Vista (up to 150 people)
• Huckleberry (up to 100 people)
• Sycamore (up to 50 people)
• Madrone (up to 50 people)
• Oak (up to 35 people)
• Roberts Grove (up to 35 people)

There are also two larger picnic sites in the Redwood Bowl area: Redwood Bowl (up to 50 people) and Anna Costa (up to 50 people).

If you have a group of 25 people or more, it's a good idea to reserve a picnic spot. You can call 1-888-EBPARKS (1-888-327-2757) and press option 2 to make a reservation. For smaller family picnics, you don't need a reservation.

Swimming: Splash and Play

The swimming area at Roberts Regional Recreation Area has a heated pool that's 25 yards (23 m) long. It goes from 3 feet (0.91 m) deep to 8.5 feet (2.6 m) deep, but there's no diving board.

The swim area also has a bathhouse that's easy for everyone to use, vending machines for snacks, and a grassy area to relax on. There's even a special lift to help people get into the pool. The pool is usually open from mid-April until the end of September. Sometimes, special times are set aside just for visitors with disabilities to use the pool.

Hiking, Biking, and Jogging

Roberts Park is a great place to go for a walk, ride your bike, or go for a jog. There are many trails to explore, letting you enjoy the beautiful redwood trees and fresh air. It's a wonderful way to get some exercise and see nature up close!