Thanks, Volunteers

Some perform their duties deep underground, others high in the air. Some are surrounded by Victorian elegance, others hit the dusty trail. All work alongside Park District employees to make the parks more accessible and enjoyable to the public. They are the citizen volunteers who help make possible the high level of service that the District provides, and the Park District owes them a great debt of thanks.

During 2006, more than 11,396 volunteers contributed 107,719 hours through all the various volunteer programs to the East Bay Regional Park District. The District staff appreciates the generous gift of their time, abilities and resources.

Volunteers who contribute 25 hours or more a year are invited to the Annual Volunteer Recognition Dinner. A delicious banquet is prepared and served by park staff to the volunteers as a "thank you" for their service to the Park District and the public.

Perhaps you are close to joining the 311 volunteers who have their names inscribed in perpetuity on the 1,000-hour plaque, which is on display in the Board Room at Park District headquarters. Every year many new names are added in categories such as Trail Patrol, Helicopter/EMT, and at Regional Parks such as Garin, Sunol, Black Diamond, Botanic Garden and Ardenwood. The 1,000 hours are cumulative, not just for a single year, so why not begin earning a space for your name by signing up as a volunteer now! In addition, this year 9 volunteers will be recognized for contributing more than 2,500 cumulative hours of service to the Park District. There is a special Volunteer Recognition Grove of trees planted in their honor at Quarry Lakes Regional Park.

Would you like to help count frogs or birds? How about propagating native plants or helping remove non-native plant species from the parks? Many trail rehabilitation projects are scheduled each year. Volunteers at Ardenwood help keep antique farm equipment operable, and some give tours of the historic Patterson House. At Black Diamond you might assist park staff in cataloguing mining museum artifacts. Volunteer emergency medical technicians accompany Park District helicopter patrols. Other volunteers educate trail users about trail safety by joining the Bicycle Patrol, Mounted Patrol, Trail Safety Patrol (hikers) or Companion Dog Patrol. Do you have a special skill you could contribute? Let us hear from you.

To find out more about volunteer opportunities in the Regional Parks, call one of the numbers below:

• Ivan Dickson Trail Maintenance Projects: Regional Trails Department at (510) 544-2631.
• Public Safety Trail Patrols: (510) 690-6580.
• All Other Volunteer Information: call Kathleen Fusek at (510) 544-2515.

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