Point Isabel Regional Shoreline
Encyclopedia
Point Isabel Regional Shoreline in Richmond, California
, operated by East Bay Regional Park District
, is an award-winning park offering activities for humans as well as dogs. It also features a concession offering food for humans and grooming for pets. It has easy access for pedestrians, public transit, and private vehicles. A community organization, Point Isabel Dog Owners and Friends (PIDO), is dedicated to the maintenance and improvement of the park.
which operated a large bulk mail facility there. The USPS offered to lease the land free of charge to the EBRPD until 2025 as a form of mitigation for the construction of their facility adjacent to the then-future shoreline park. The lease came with the condition of free public access.
The park is currently undergoing about US $500,000 worth of capital improvements, including new irrigation systems and turf
, fox tail removal, trail repavement, picnic sites and café seating. This is being funded by a portion of US $225 million collected by Measure AA (1998).
The park, which receives over 500,000 canine visitors per year, was named the number one dog park by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals
(PETA) in 2006.
It is named for the natural promontory of Point Isabel, which was itself named for landowner Victór Castro
's daughter Isabel.
The remains of Laci Peterson
and her unborn child washed up, at two separate sites, on the shores of the park in 2003.
in the East Bay region of the Bay Area and is administered by the East Bay Regional Park District
. The park consists of the northwestern shoreline of the promontory of Point Isabel from Hoffman Marsh
along Hoffman Channel
to Richmond Inner Harbor. The northern shore of the park against Hoffman Channel was formerly a sandy beach and has been modified from its original state by leveling and in-filling of the surrounding mudflats, tidal flats and other wetlands.
The rest of the area consists of a water treatment facility, radio towers, a US Postal Service facility, a Costco
store, and office buildings. The parkland has an elevation of 16–25 feet (5–8 meters).
The Hoffman Channel is the outlet of Fluvius Innominatus
creek from its mouth at the edge of its delta, Hoffman Marsh The shoreline is lined with broken concrete blocks and other riprap
.
The park is open between 5 am and 10 pm PST; admission and parking are free, as stipulated by the lease agreement. The park is fully wheelchair accessible.
Eastshore State Park
(ESP), a park incorporating wetlands along the shore of San Francisco Bay has already incorporated the Albany Mudflats to the south and hopes to incorporate Hoffman Marsh. North Point Isabel Park, situated just north of the Point Isabel Shoreline, is already part of ESP.
Point Isabel features two businesses aimed at visitors: Mudpuppy's Tub & Scrub, which is a dog grooming retail store and outlet, and the Sit & Stay Café, which offers drinks and sandwiches.
The park also offers striking panoramic views of both Marin County mountains
, San Francisco
and the Golden Gate Bridge
. There are 3.2 miles (5.1 km) of flat trails which are generally wheelchair accessible and stroller friendly. Part of trails in the park belongs to the San Francisco Bay Trail
.
The park supplies biodegradable bags called "mutt mitts" which are worn around the hand to retrieve animal waste. These bags cost the EBRPD about US$34,000 annually.
's 25 bus line, which links to the El Cerrito Plaza BART station and Downtown Berkeley. The park is also accessible by car via I-80 and I-580
from the Central Avenue exit. There is ample parking in two parking lots and additional street parking as well.
The park connects to the San Francisco Bay Trail leading into the Marina Bay
neighborhood northwestwards into Richmond and southwards through Berkeley
to Emeryville
.
for park maintenance and preservation. Point Isabel has also been noted in the media for its safety, lack of vandalism, and cleanliness.
The organization assists in funding mutt mitts and promotes their use to visitors. Self-policing by parkgoers and PIDO members has been credited with making the park dog waste-free.
PIDO sponsors "good citizenship" testing and accreditation for dogs as well as fundraising events, volunteer park cleaning, and a dog festival entitled "Barktoberfest".
Richmond, California
Richmond is a city in western Contra Costa County, California, United States. The city was incorporated on August 7, 1905. It is located in the East Bay, part of the San Francisco Bay Area. It is a residential inner suburb of San Francisco, as well as the site of heavy industry, which has been...
, operated by East Bay Regional Park District
East Bay Regional Park District
The East Bay Regional Park District is a special district operating in Alameda County and Contra Costa County, California, within the East Bay area of the San Francisco Bay Area...
, is an award-winning park offering activities for humans as well as dogs. It also features a concession offering food for humans and grooming for pets. It has easy access for pedestrians, public transit, and private vehicles. A community organization, Point Isabel Dog Owners and Friends (PIDO), is dedicated to the maintenance and improvement of the park.
History
The 23 acres (93,077.8 m²) park was acquired by the East Bay Regional Parks District in 1975 from the United States Postal ServiceUnited States Postal Service
The United States Postal Service is an independent agency of the United States government responsible for providing postal service in the United States...
which operated a large bulk mail facility there. The USPS offered to lease the land free of charge to the EBRPD until 2025 as a form of mitigation for the construction of their facility adjacent to the then-future shoreline park. The lease came with the condition of free public access.
The park is currently undergoing about US $500,000 worth of capital improvements, including new irrigation systems and turf
Sod
Sod or turf is grass and the part of the soil beneath it held together by the roots, or a piece of thin material.The term sod may be used to mean turf grown and cut specifically for the establishment of lawns...
, fox tail removal, trail repavement, picnic sites and café seating. This is being funded by a portion of US $225 million collected by Measure AA (1998).
The park, which receives over 500,000 canine visitors per year, was named the number one dog park by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals is an American animal rights organization based in Norfolk, Virginia, and led by Ingrid Newkirk, its international president. A non-profit corporation with 300 employees and two million members and supporters, it claims to be the largest animal rights...
(PETA) in 2006.
It is named for the natural promontory of Point Isabel, which was itself named for landowner Victór Castro
Víctor Castro
Víctor Ramón Castro was a landowner in an area of Alta California which later became part of Contra Costa County, California.Víctor Castro was the son of Francisco María Castro, a former soldier at the San Francisco Presidio, one-time alcalde of the Pueblo of San José, and grantee of Rancho San...
's daughter Isabel.
The remains of Laci Peterson
Laci Peterson
Laci Denise Peterson was an American woman who was the subject of a highly discussed murder case after she went missing while seven and a half months pregnant with her first child. Peterson was reportedly last seen alive on December 24, 2002...
and her unborn child washed up, at two separate sites, on the shores of the park in 2003.
Overview
The park is located along the eastern shore of the San Francisco BaySan Francisco Bay
San Francisco Bay is a shallow, productive estuary through which water draining from approximately forty percent of California, flowing in the Sacramento and San Joaquin rivers from the Sierra Nevada mountains, enters the Pacific Ocean...
in the East Bay region of the Bay Area and is administered by the East Bay Regional Park District
East Bay Regional Park District
The East Bay Regional Park District is a special district operating in Alameda County and Contra Costa County, California, within the East Bay area of the San Francisco Bay Area...
. The park consists of the northwestern shoreline of the promontory of Point Isabel from Hoffman Marsh
Hoffman Marsh
Hoffman Marsh is a wetlands in Richmond, California bordering Point Isabel Regional Shoreline and Interstate 80. The marsh is the delta for the mouth of Fluvius Innominatus creek into the Hoffman Channel which lead to San Francisco Bay. The marsh has been proposed to be included in the Eastshore...
along Hoffman Channel
Hoffman Channel
Hoffman Channel is a waterway in Richmond, California connecting San Francisco Bay with Hoffman Marsh and Fluvius Innominatus creek which drain directly into the channel. The channel is part of Point Isabel Regional Shoreline, the largest dog park in the United States and serves a swimming are for...
to Richmond Inner Harbor. The northern shore of the park against Hoffman Channel was formerly a sandy beach and has been modified from its original state by leveling and in-filling of the surrounding mudflats, tidal flats and other wetlands.
The rest of the area consists of a water treatment facility, radio towers, a US Postal Service facility, a Costco
Costco
Costco Wholesale Corporation is the largest membership warehouse club chain in the United States. it is the third largest retailer in the United States, where it originated, and the ninth largest in the world...
store, and office buildings. The parkland has an elevation of 16–25 feet (5–8 meters).
The Hoffman Channel is the outlet of Fluvius Innominatus
Fluvius Innominatus
Fluvius Innominatus or Central Creek is a creek in Richmond and El Cerrito, California in western Contra Costa County. There is one main source and a secondary unnamed tributary. The creek drains into Hoffman Marsh and then flows into the bay through Point Isabel Regional Shoreline's Hoffman Channel...
creek from its mouth at the edge of its delta, Hoffman Marsh The shoreline is lined with broken concrete blocks and other riprap
Riprap
Riprap — also known as rip rap, rubble, shot rock or rock armour or "Rip-rap" — is rock or other material used to armor shorelines, streambeds, bridge abutments, pilings and other shoreline structures against scour, water or ice erosion.It is made from a variety of rock types, commonly granite or...
.
The park is open between 5 am and 10 pm PST; admission and parking are free, as stipulated by the lease agreement. The park is fully wheelchair accessible.
Eastshore State Park
Eastshore State Park
Eastshore State Park is a state park and wildlife refuge along the San Francisco Bay shoreline of the East Bay between the cities of Richmond, Albany, Berkeley, Emeryville, and Oakland. It encompasses remnant natural wetlands, restored wetlands as well as landfill west of the Eastshore Freeway. It...
(ESP), a park incorporating wetlands along the shore of San Francisco Bay has already incorporated the Albany Mudflats to the south and hopes to incorporate Hoffman Marsh. North Point Isabel Park, situated just north of the Point Isabel Shoreline, is already part of ESP.
The park also offers striking panoramic views of both Marin County mountains
Mount Tamalpais
Mount Tamalpais is a peak in Marin County, California, United States, often considered symbolic of Marin County. Much of Mount Tamalpais is protected within public lands such as Mount Tamalpais State Park and the Mount Tamalpais Watershed.-Geography:...
, San Francisco
San Francisco, California
San Francisco , officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the financial, cultural, and transportation center of the San Francisco Bay Area, a region of 7.15 million people which includes San Jose and Oakland...
and the Golden Gate Bridge
Golden Gate Bridge
The Golden Gate Bridge is a suspension bridge spanning the Golden Gate, the opening of the San Francisco Bay into the Pacific Ocean. As part of both U.S. Route 101 and California State Route 1, the structure links the city of San Francisco, on the northern tip of the San Francisco Peninsula, to...
. There are 3.2 miles (5.1 km) of flat trails which are generally wheelchair accessible and stroller friendly. Part of trails in the park belongs to the San Francisco Bay Trail
San Francisco Bay Trail
The San Francisco Bay Trail is a bicycle and pedestrian trail that will eventually allow continuous travel around the shoreline of San Francisco Bay. As of 2011, approximately 310 miles of trail have been completed...
.
The park supplies biodegradable bags called "mutt mitts" which are worn around the hand to retrieve animal waste. These bags cost the EBRPD about US$34,000 annually.
Park rules
Leashes are optional for non-aggressive dogs in Point Isabel with certain restrictions. Dogowners must have a leash on hand, clean up their pet's waste and fill up holes dug by their pet. Dogs who become aggressive must be leashed immediately. Dogs are allowed to swim in Hoffman Channel, but not in Hoffman Marsh. Dogowners also must prevent their pets from disturbing feeding birds at low tide.Transportation
The park is served by AC TransitAC Transit
AC Transit is an Oakland-based regional public transit agency serving the western half of Alameda County and parts of western Contra Costa County in the western, Bay-side area of the East Bay of the San Francisco Bay Area...
's 25 bus line, which links to the El Cerrito Plaza BART station and Downtown Berkeley. The park is also accessible by car via I-80 and I-580
Interstate 580 (California)
Interstate 580 is an 80-mile east–west Interstate Highway in Northern California. The heavily traveled spur route of Interstate 80 runs from San Rafael in the San Francisco Bay Area to Interstate 5 near Tracy in the Central Valley...
from the Central Avenue exit. There is ample parking in two parking lots and additional street parking as well.
The park connects to the San Francisco Bay Trail leading into the Marina Bay
Marina Bay, Richmond, California
Marina Bay is located in Richmond's protected Inner Harbor. It was developed in the mid 1980s in an effort to clean up what had been up to that point the defunct WWII-era Kaiser Shipyards. The has been planned as an upper-scale residential waterfront community with apartments, condominiums,...
neighborhood northwestwards into Richmond and southwards through Berkeley
Berkeley, California
Berkeley is a city on the east shore of the San Francisco Bay in Northern California, United States. Its neighbors to the south are the cities of Oakland and Emeryville. To the north is the city of Albany and the unincorporated community of Kensington...
to Emeryville
Emeryville, California
Emeryville is a small city located in Alameda County, California, in the United States. It is located in a corridor between the cities of Berkeley and Oakland, extending to the shore of San Francisco Bay. Its proximity to San Francisco, the Bay Bridge, the University of California, Berkeley, and...
.
PIDO
Point Isabel Dog Owners and Friends (PIDO) is a community organization that works to raise fundsFundraising
Fundraising or fund raising is the process of soliciting and gathering voluntary contributions as money or other resources, by requesting donations from individuals, businesses, charitable foundations, or governmental agencies...
for park maintenance and preservation. Point Isabel has also been noted in the media for its safety, lack of vandalism, and cleanliness.
The organization assists in funding mutt mitts and promotes their use to visitors. Self-policing by parkgoers and PIDO members has been credited with making the park dog waste-free.
PIDO sponsors "good citizenship" testing and accreditation for dogs as well as fundraising events, volunteer park cleaning, and a dog festival entitled "Barktoberfest".
See also
- Point Isabel, the promontory on which the park is situated.
External links
- Point Isabel Regional Shoreline at the East Bay Regional Parks District website
- Mudpuppy's Tub & Scrub and Sit & Stay Café
- Trails map
- Point Isabel at bay Hiker, report, images
- Pbase, photos
- Pido.org Point Isabel Dog Owners and Friends
- Point Isabel commentary at Yelp.com