By Norman La Force
The Sierra Club closely follows issues in the East Bay Regional Park District — the largest urban regional park district in the country. We work to ensure that everyone has equitable access to safe and enjoyable experiences in nature, as well as ample space for wildlife to thrive in protected local ecosystems. As we have reported in recent Yodelers, our work with East Bay Parks currently includes efforts to push back on the trend to place bikers, hikers, and equestrians on the same narrow trails. We’re also tracking a disturbing rise in illegal bootleg bike trails. In Briones Regional Park alone, there are over 30 miles of bootleg trails, which degrade the park’s landscapes and fragment wildlife habitat. The Park District is currently engaged in a pilot project to expand bike access in Briones. While we applaud the District for increasing access to our parks for bicyclists, we are concerned that not enough attention is being paid to protecting natural resources and pedestrians, who account for 80% of trail users in East Bay Parks. One solution, which has the support of bike advocates, equestrians, and the California Native Plant Society, is a “trails master plan” that takes a district-wide look at increasing access for all user groups, while still protecting fragile natural resources.
While we press for more transparency and accountability in decision-making, Park District staff seem to be moving in the opposite direction. East Bay Parks recently amended its operational ordinance, Ordinance 38, to give expansive plenary powers to the General Manager. The General Manager now has the authority to decide on expanding or contracting any use on any trail or in any park without the Park District Board first knowing about it or voting on it. For example, the general manager could decide without any public input to ban off-leash dogs from Albany Beach or to allow e-bikes on single-track narrow trails in protected habitat areas. The Sierra Club believes that such changes on our public lands should require public notice and input and a vote of the Board of Directors. The Board vote that approved the Ordinance 38 amendment was, unusually, not unanimous. We thank Directors Echols and Lane for opposing the change. Director Wieskamp abstained. This matter will come before the Board later in the year, and we will see what we can do to get this amendment revoked. To get involved with trail and public lands issues, please reach out to Norman La Force at n.laforce@comcast.net.