Eastshore State Park
About The Park
Eastshore State Park is one of the most outstanding achievements in the history of open space protection. It is the result of decades of citizen efforts to protect San Francisco Bay as a public open space resource. Over 4,000 major stakeholders and interested parties reached substantial consensus on the future uses and improvements for the park. The newly designated State seashore is a recreational facility harmonious with its natural setting. It is located in the midst of one of the most highly urbanized areas of California.
Eastshore State Park extends 8.5 miles along the East Bay shoreline from the Bay Bridge to Richmond. It includes 1,854 acres of uplands and tidelands along the waterfronts of Oakland, Emeryville, Berkeley, Albany, and Richmond. Eastshore State Park parallels the most heavily traveled corridor in the East Bay, making it a highly visible, highly accessible area of parkland.
The East Bay Regional Park District, acting as agent for the State, used funds from the Park District's 1988 Measure AA and state park bonds to acquire the property and clean up contaminated areas at a cost of more than $33 million. The Eastshore State Park General Plan identifies the future preservation, conservation, and recreation uses and improvements for the park. The Park District is the operator of the park using funds from the Park District's Measure CC, approved by District voters in 2004. The City of Albany currently owns and operates the Albany Bulb which is adjacent to but outside of the Eastshore State Park boundaries. Eastshore State Park does not yet include the Albany Bulb. Click here to see photos of Eastshore State Park from Contra Costa Times website. Back to top
Habitat Restoration
The East Bay Regional Park District is enhancing and restoring a number of ecosystems and habitat types throughout the park. The Berkeley Meadow Habitat Restoration is one such project that improved public access and ecological habitats in the Berkeley Meadow.
The 72-acre Berkeley Meadow was operated by the City of Berkeley until the 1960s. Hazardous materials were removed in 1998. Habitats in the Meadow consisted of non-native weeds, small patches of native vegetation, and several seasonal wetlands that had developed atop the subsiding landfill. A three-phase restoration plan is now being implemented.
The $1.3 million Phase I restoration project, funded by Cherokee-Simeon and constructed in 2004-2005, enhanced existing wetlands and created new wetlands within a 17-acre area. Following the completion of Phase I, the Meadow was reopened to public access in 2006.
The 15.2-acre Phase II project will begin in the summer or fall of 2007. The project will create or enhance the same habitats provided in Phase I: restoration of 4.73 acres of seasonal wetlands and creation of 10.47 acres of coastal scrub and upland habitat. Non-native vegetation will be replaced with native grassland and scrub species, which will create a habitat for northern harrier and white-tailed kite. About $1.7 million in funds and improvements will be provided by Bailey Estates LLC as mitigation. Another project goal is to protect existing wildlife habitat by restoring the Meadow over several years. Nesting locations for harriers and kites are protected by fencing, and experimental nest boxes were provided for western burrowing owls in the Phase I area. Phase III of the project will restore the remaining portions of the meadow.
The first portion of Eastshore State Park to be opened to the public by the East Bay Regional Park District was the multi-use trail connecting Pt. Isabel Regional Shoreline to the Richmond Marina. Additions to the San Francisco Bay Trail will likely be the next Eastshore State Park facilities to come on line as environmental remediation projects are completed. Portions of this section of the Bay Trail are now being designed. Back to top
Park Features
The shoreline reflects the influences of both natural systems and human intervention, with natural features such as tidal marshes and beaches intermingled with man-made elements such as former municipal landfills. Back to top
Park Activities
Pedestrian and bicycle trails run almost the entire length of the park and provide a panoramic view of the Bay. Back to top
Park Accessibility
The 2 trails in the Berkeley Meadow are wheelchair accessible. A wheelchair accessible restroom is at the end of Buchanan Street in Albany. Back to top
To Reach The Park
Driving directions: Eastshore State Park is located along 8.5 miles of the San Francisco Bay shoreline just west of Highway I-80 (the Eastshore Freeway) and Highway I-580. There are many entrances to Eastshore State Park. The major entrances are located at the following interchanges along I-80 and I-580: Central Avenue in Richmond; Buchanan Street in Albany; Gilman Street, University Avenue, and Ashby Avenue, in Berkeley; and Powell Street in Emeryville.
- Central Avenue in Richmond:
From I-80 (the Eastshore Freeway) and from NORTHBOUND I-580 in Richmond, take westbound Central Avenue (towards the Bay). Then either 1) turn RIGHT at Rydin Road and then continue to the Point Isabel Regional Shoreline portion of Eastshore State Park, adjacent to the U.S. Postal Service Bulk Mail Center, or 2) turn RIGHT at Isabel Street and continue to the Point Isabel Regional Shoreline portion of Eastshore State Park, adjacent to Costco. PARKING is available at either location.
From SOUTHBOUND I-580 in Richmond, take the Central Avenue exit. Then, either 1) continue FORWARD onto Rydin Road and to the Point Isabel Regional Shoreline portion of Eastshore State Park, adjacent to the U.S. Postal Service Bulk Mail Center, or 2) turn LEFT onto Central Avenue, and then turn RIGHT at Isabel Street and continue to the Point Isabel Regional Shoreline portion of Eastshore State Park, adjacent to Costco. PARKING is available at either location. - Buchanan Street in Albany:
From NORTHBOUND I-80 (the Eastshore Freeway) or from SOUTHBOUND I-580 in Albany, take Buchanan Street westbound (towards the Bay). A limited amount of PARKING is available at the western end of Buchanan Street. - Gilman Street in Berkeley:
From I-80 (the Eastshore Freeway)/I-580 in Berkeley, take westbound Gilman Street (towards the Bay). At the western end of Gilman Street, PARKING is available in the parking lot on the south side of the street. - University Avenue in Berkeley:
From NORTHBOUND I-80 (the Eastshore Freeway)/I-580, take eastbound University Avenue (AWAY from the Bay). Then make a U-TURN at 8th Avenue onto westbound University Avenue (towards the Bay).
From SOUTHBOUND I-80 (the Eastshore Freeway)/I-580, take westbound University Avenue (towards the Bay).
PARKING is available 1) at the corner of University Avenue and West Frontage Road, in the unpaved parking lot behind the Seabreeze Market; 2) along University Avenue, between West Frontage Road and Marina Boulevard; and 3) turning onto Marina Boulevard, along the unpaved shoulder of Marina Boulevard. - Ashby Avenue in Berkeley:
From SOUTHBOUND I-80 (the Eastshore Freeway)/I-580, take westbound Ashby Avenue (towards the Bay). Turn LEFT onto Frontage Road. A very limited amount of PARKING is available at Point Emery. - Powell Street in Emeryville:
From NORTHBOUND I-80 (the Eastshore Freeway)/I-580, take westbound Powell Street (towards the Bay). From SOUTHBOUND I-80 (the Eastshore Freeway)/I-580, take the Powell Street exit. Turn LEFT at Frontage Road, and then RIGHT at Powell Street. A limited amount of time-restricted PARKING is available along Powell Street.
Click here for public transit information. Back to top
Trail Map
Park Info
- Address
- See To Reach The Park
- Phone Number
- Toll Free: 888-EBPARKS (888-327-2757), option 3, extension 4528
- Local Weather
- Map
- View Trail Map
- Park Hours
- Open between 5 a.m. and 10 p.m. unless otherwise posted or permitted
- Park Events
- Click here for upcoming events
- Camping Reservations
- No reservable campgrounds
- Picnic Reservations
- No reservable sites
- Emergency Number
- 911
- EBRPD Headquarters
- 1-888-EBPARKS or 1-888-327-2757