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Richmond Bay Trail Report Third Quarter 2004
Richmond Bay Trail Network,
The third quarter has been a very challenging one for the Bay Trail in Richmond. As the comic
strip character Pogo Possum once said "We are faced with insurmountable opportunities." Read on
to see what we mean.
Point San Pablo Peninsula: Harrah's, Indian tribes and ChevronTexaco are battling for the future
of Point Molate and the rest of the Point San Pablo Peninsula with five miles of shoreline park and
Bay Trail at stake. An African proverb warns, "When elephants fight it is the grass that suffers."
TRAC, the Trails for Richmond Action Committee, is working to protect the publicıs
turf. Any outcome must ensure completion of the planned Bay Trail spur running north from I-580
along the shoreline to the Point San Pablo Yacht Harbor, as well as provide a large public access park
and recreational open space on the western half of the peninsula.
Richmond Parkway Bay Trail Gap: A construction design and bid package has been completed for
filling the gap in the Bay Trail between Pennsylvania and Gertrude Avenues. Even though TRAC has
secured sufficient grant money for this $394K project, Richmond's Finance Dept. has held up the project
due to cash flow concerns relating to requirements of reimbursable grants. Richmond's Engineering
Department is working to resolve this issue so that a construction bid request may be issued.
Ferry Point Tunnel to Miller/Knox Regional Shoreline: A construction design and bid package has
been completed for widening the narrow elevated sidewalk through the Ferry Point tunnel and the
sidewalk along Dornan Drive to the Bay Trail entering Miller/Knox Regional Shoreline. TRAC is working
to find funds for construction.
These are just a few examples of the "insurmountable opportunities" faced in completing the Bay Trail
in Richmond. In total, TRAC is engaged with 15 active projects in various stages of planning,
negotiation and regulatory review to fill gaps remaining in Richmondıs Bay Trail. Seven of these
projects are on public land, and eight are on lands where cooperation by special districts and the
private sector is crucial.
Rather than going into detail on all of the projects underway, TRAC simply reminds you to get out and
enjoy Richmondıs shoreline parks and existing 20 miles of Bay Trail. We understand instinctively
that biking, walking and running along the Bay shoreline is good for our minds and bodies.
However, it is less obvious that walking improves cognitive function. Two papers published in
the September issue of Journal of the American Medical Association found
that elderly women and men who walk regularly, even as little as 1-1/2 miles per week, have a higher
level of cognitive function and were less likely to suffer cognitive decline. For example, men
who walked less than 1/4 mile/day were almost twice as likely to suffer dementia compared with those
who walked more than 2 miles per day. So, stay sharp mentally and physically by getting out to
enjoy the Bay Trail. A color
map is available.
Measure CC: On November 2, please vote for East Bay Regional Park Districtıs Measure CC.
For homeowners, this is a $12 annual parcel tax in the zone west of the Berkeley hills in the cities
running from Pinole to Oakland and Alameda. Voters in this zone strongly supported prior EBRPD
parcel tax proposals, which narrowly failed to obtain the needed 2/3 vote. The tax will sunset
after 15 years. About 31% of the revenues will be allocated for Regional Park, Bay Trail and
habitat restoration projects in Richmond, including Brooks Island, Kennedy Grove, Miller/Knox,
Point Molate, Point Pinole, Point Isabel, and Wildcat Canyon. New Bay Trail projects include
Keller Beach to the lagoon in Miller/Knox, Point San Pablo Peninsula, Wildcat Creek to San Pablo Creek,
and connections with Point Pinole Regional Shoreline.
Thank you for supporting completion of the Bay Trail in Richmond. Please share this report with
your friends and neighbors who also might wish to join the Richmond Bay Trail Network.
Bruce, David and Nancy
Bruce Beyaert, TRAC Chair
David Dolberg and Nancy Strauch, TRAC Vice Chairs
Email:
Web:
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