The new exhibit at the Contra Costa County History Center in Martinez features the history of the East Bay Regional Park District and will be open from January 20 to April 23, 2009 at the Center, 610 Main Street, Martinez.  The center is open 9-4 Tuesday-Thursday.  The phone number is 925-229-1042.  The exhibit can be viewed from the sidewalk, with more to see inside.

A special Saturday open house is planned for February 14, 2009, which includes a public tour led by EBRPD Director Ted Radke and Friends of Alhambra Creek Founder Kathy Radke, both from Martinez. The tour begins at 3 pm and includes a brief introduction to the 75th exhibit, a walk down Alhambra Creek (including a look at the beaver nests) and a tour of Martinez Regional Park.

Heide Perryman, founder and leader of the beaver support group, Worth A Dam, has agreed to join the tour to talk about the beavers.  Igor and Shirley Skaredoff, leaders of Friends of Alhambra Creek, will talk about Alhambra Creek improvements.  

Established in 1934, the Park District is celebrating its 75th anniversary this year making it the oldest and largest regional park district in the nation. It is currently nearly 100,000 acres in size and includes 65 regional parks and over 1,100 miles of trails throughout Alameda and Contra Costa counties.  

Featured in the exhibit are artifacts from the history of various parks. There are items from the ranching and blacksmithing past (Las Trampas Wilderness, Briones, Morgan Territory), the Rose Hill Cemetery and coal and sand mines (Black Diamond Mines Regional Preserve), the Giant Powder Company (Point Pinole Regional Park), skulls from animals in the parks and fossils. Clothing worn by CCC workers in early park history (Tilden) and recent park uniforms are on display.

Regional Park photographs taken by Bob Walker and historic images from the District’s past may also be viewed. There are brochures, stewardship reports, master plans and campaign posters.  A timeline which traces the evolution of the regional park from its beginning in 1934 is particularly interesting.

The exhibit committee which put the display together includes: Jerry Kent, Beverly Lane, Traci Parent, James Wilson, Jeff Wilson, David Zuckerman, Carol Johnson and Betty Maffei. Many others from the District have contributed with ideas, energy and artifacts.