WALK BY THE BAY at McLaughlin Eastshore State Park, San Francisco Bay, CA

View of Golden Gate Bridge from Chavez Park in Eastshore State Park

On New Year’s Day the weather was crisp and clear, so we decided to go for a walk on the trails in Eastshore State Park along San Francisco Bay. After parking at the corner of University Avenue and Frontage Road in Berkeley, we passed through the gate and walked through the Berkeley Meadow, partly fenced off for habitat restoration.

Path through the Berkeley Meadow

On the other side, near the Berkeley Marina, we joined the trails of Chavez Park. Along the shore, we watched coots and other water birds swimming in the bay. Ground squirrels foraged for food in the grass, popping in and out of their holes when people came too close. As we looked east over the water we could see the University of California campus in Berkeley; to the north we saw horse stables for the Golden Gate Fields race track.

Path along the North Basin

One hundred years ago, the tide flats and meadows that now make up the park were part of San Francisco Bay. Gradually the shoreline changed as trash and landfill were dumped into the water. It was an ecological disaster. A community effort led to cleaning it up and turning the land into a recreational area that everyone could enjoy.

On October 3, 2012, the California State Park and Recreation Commission renamed this 8.5-mile shoreline parkland McLaughlin Eastshore State Park in honor of Save The Bay co-founder Sylvia McLaughlin.

On the west side of the Chavez Park we looked out over San Francisco Bay toward the Golden Gate Bridge. There was a steady wind, perfect for sailing and kite flying. It was a beautiful day and a great way to begin the New Year.

Kite Fliers in Chavez Park

For More Information:
Eastshore State Park (http://www.ebparks.org/parks/eastshore) 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 website provides directions and a map of the trails.

Note: Sylvia McLaughlin, after whom the park is named, was a remarkable woman. She recently passed away at the age of 99. You can read about her life and efforts to Save the Bay in this obituary at the Los Angeles Times.

Ground Squirrel