A Wrap-up of 2010
BAY RIDGE TRAIL SYSTEM:
Thanks to supporters like you – we dedicated over 10 new miles of trail in 2010, planned new trail all around the Bay region, launched a new web site with printable maps for all 330 miles of dedicated trail, and expanded our events and outings. With your help, 2011 will be our best year yet.
BAY RIDGE TRAIL IS 53% COMPLETE:
http://rare-earth-news.blogspot.com/2010/06/sf-bay-ridge-trail-system-is-53.html
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The Nation's Largest Urban Trail System Is Right Here
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IN THE CITY OF SAN FRANCISCO
It is an oversight the Bay Area Ridge Trail Council is working to change.
11/24/2010--The Bay Area Ridge Trail is 400 consecutive miles of trails for hiking, biking and equestrian use created two decades ago to expose residents to the Bay in all surrounding counties. But the highest point of The City’s seven-mile portion of the trail misses the mark.
11/24/2010--The Bay Area Ridge Trail is 400 consecutive miles of trails for hiking, biking and equestrian use created two decades ago to expose residents to the Bay in all surrounding counties. But the highest point of The City’s seven-mile portion of the trail misses the mark.
According to Bern Smith, South Bay
“You’re walking right on the side,” he said, “not one or two blocks from Twin Peaks .”
Saturday, October 16, 2010
8:30 AM to 4:00 PM
8:30 AM to 4:00 PM
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IN SOLANO COUNTY
There were 2 Ridge Trail dedications in Solano County
Details below.
A 3.2-mile bikeway on McGary Road Solano County bikeway from Vallejo to Fairfield
McGary Road opens again after 12-year wait--- LINK NOT WORKING
The new roadway also will also add 3.2 miles to the 26.5 miles of the Bay Ridge Trail in
Also opened: the Rose Drive Bicycle/Pedestrian Bridge Path
The new multi-use bridge path provides a safe crossing over I-780 at the Columbus Parkway Interchange, replacing a very narrow lane and cement curb.
It’s just a two-mile stroll or easy bike ride from downtown Benicia to the new path, which will provide great community connections in the area, linking neighborhoods north of I-780, the Vallejo Benicia Buffer and Blue Rock Springs Park, with Benicia State Recreation Area, Carquinez bluffs, and more along the Carquinez Strait. Smooth pedestrian connections are in place and final improvements for cyclists are being reviewed.
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NEW PARK PURCHASES:
To learn about some of the wonderful opportuntities that we have to preserve habitats, wildlife corridors and recreational prospects, please read Dennis Cuff's article in the Contra Costa Times and view the slideshow for lovely sneek peaks of new lands.
12/15/2010
By the end of the year, the East Bay Regional Park District will have bought 9,274 acres during 2009 and 2010 for $45 million, park officials said. That amounts to 14.5 square miles, nearly a third the size of San Francisco
The park district isn't the only group snapping up land:
The Contra Costa Water District this year bought the first 600 acres of the thousands of acres it plans to acquire for open space to offset the environmental effects of expanding Los Vaqueros Reservoir.
Save Mount Diablo, a nonprofit land preservation group based in Walnut Creek, is buying six small parcels along Marsh Creek and elsewhere on the east side of Mount Diablo this year. It usually buys a one property every year or two.
The Muir Heritage Land Trust has acquired 506 acres in areas east of Hercules and in Lafayette
…The East Bay Regional Park District often buys much larger parcels from third- or fourth-generation ranch families to expand parks such as Black Diamond Mines near Antioch , Pleasanton Ridge and Vasco Caves
In September, the regional park board approved an agreement to pay $6.4 million for the first 640 acres of a new park to open in Dublin 's Doolan Canyon
A SLIDE SHOW OF THE NEW PARKLANDS:
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A Park is Born in Dublin --the 650 acre Dublin Hills Regional Park
by Dan Rademacher
The newest addition to the East Bay Regional Park District rides high on the Calaveras Ridge, with views from San Francisco and the Bay all the way around to Sunol, Brushy Peak, and Mount Diablo.
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11/2010—Save Mount Diablo e-news
Fall 2010 issue--Dry Creek, Save Mount Diablo’s most recent acquisition property—we closed escrow in September—is only 5.18 acres but it is a spectacular and strategic purchase, with magnificent oaks near Cowell Ranch State Park in Brentwood and within a half mile of Brentwood subdivisions.
Since 1971 Save Mount Diablo has helped increase open space on and around the mountain from 6,788 acres to more than 100,000 acres - with your support we can save the next 80,000 acres. Read a letter from Art Bonwell, SMD founder.
http://www.savemountdiablo.org/SaveTheMountain.htm
With the help of our allies we have increased open space to over 100,000 acres since 1971. However, over 80,000 acres of Mount Diablo and its foothills are still at risk of being lost to development forever.
http://savemountdiablo.org
http://campaign.r20.constantcontact.com/render?llr=lrxdvzbab&v=001qNmFLvMdRPATOBTl5CTq9Ohb98OJRfa36di5FrZ0u6ChHV_KQRSsDQYr5q_6eUXGbt_4iuMZVE_r5PbgR3QcYw5MVqLK-IT86sWjATfg27_EcT3Z7wH2Kw%3D%3D
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SPRAWL CONTROL---URBAN GROWTH BOUNDARIES
RESULTS OF THE NOVEMBER ELECTION:
DEVELOPER ATTACKS ON GROWTH BOUNDARIES LOSE IN:
San Ramon in Contra Costa County
NEW OR RENEWED URBAN BOUNDARIES WIN IN:
11/4/2010-Dear supporter of Greenbelt Alliance, Thank you.
Because of your support, we can proudly announce that after the votes were counted Tuesday night, all five of our endorsed local measures were victorious. It looks like Bay Area voters are truly embracing the Grow Smart Bay Area vision for the region through choices at the ballot box:
In Contra Costa County , San Ramon residents overwhelmingly defeated Measure W ( 71.91%), a measure that would have expanded the city's urban growth boundary to allow development in the Tassajara Valley
In Sonoma County , Measure O passed by 66.9%, renewing Santa Rosa Petaluma
Of those five, we’re particularly pleased that two Greenbelt Alliance-led campaigns, Measure W in San Ramon and Measure O in Santa Rosa, won with over 2/3 voter approval.
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IN THE EAST BAY
10/6/2010—from Greenbelt Alliance
Who benefits from Measure W?
Measure W in San Ramon will destroy the Tassajara Valley
Watch this 60-second video that identifies exactly who will capitalize on Measure W.
For more on Measure W in San Ramon, visit NoonMeasureW.org, or read the endorsement from the Contra Costa Times (spoiler alert: the Times says vote it down.)
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stories on Urban Growth Boundary attacks in Brentwood and San Ramon
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IN SONOMA COUNTY
We give an enthusiastic "Yes!" vote to all three urban growth boundary ballot measures, but read our analysis of these measures http://growsmartbayarea.org/gs_news/?p=349 to learn a bit more about each policy.
And read our Ballot Guide for a full roundup of where Greenbelt Alliance stands on crucial open space and urban places ballot initiatives.
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UPDATES ON OTHER PRESERVATION BATTLES:
THE SOUTH BAY
Your support last year allowed us to continue our legacy of advocacy, education and grassroots action on several fronts:
-- Opposing growth inducing land use actions in Morgan Hill and Gilroy
--Participating in review of, and opposing, the proposed Redwood City Saltworks bay development project,
--Opposing the proposed Big Wave development in Pillar Marsh,
--Working with the City of San Jose
-- For more 2010 accomplishments please see our latest newsletter, Green Footnotes, pages 10 & 11!
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THE NORTH EAST BAY
from greenbelt alliance:
--The Community Coalition for a Sustainable Concord, of which Greenbelt Alliance is a member, is still analyzing the document ( download Books 1 & 2 from the website), but so far the Coalition likes the clustering of homes and services near the North Concord BART station and that more open space has been set aside than what was planned in February.
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Since 1980, MALT has permanently protected nearly half of the working farm and ranch land in Marin County
But there is still more work to do...60,000 acres of irreplaceable farmland are still at risk. If you haven't yet made a 2010 contribution, you can help us reach our goal by donating to MALT today!
MAP:
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In this season of giving, a wonderfully generous Sebastopol family, which has asked to remain anonymous, has come forward with an inspiring and challenging gift — a $300,000 pledge to be matched dollar for dollar. Every gift we receive by December 31 will be matched by their extraordinary generosity. We hope you will consider making a year-end donation to help ensure that these and other projects are completed: adding 255 acres of protected redwood forest along the Sonoma Coast; restoring 1,000 acres of wetlands along San Pablo Bay, protecting wildlife corridors in the Sonoma Valley, and expanding our hikes and recreational activities at the Jenner Headlands.
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