| Revision as of 22:31, 3 September 2007 editCholga (talk | contribs)4,332 edits added optional parameter "opened" to box, removed image2 added parameter← Previous edit | Revision as of 22:58, 3 September 2007 edit undoILike2BeAnonymous (talk | contribs)Extended confirmed users15,861 editsm →Overview: The park doesn't "employ" the bags, it provides them for others to employ. And please, enough with the graphic dog shit stuff!Next edit → | ||
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| The park's green areas are ] and watered and there are publicly accessible bathrooms. Point Isabel includes two businesses aimed at visitors: Mudpuppy's Tub & Scrub, which is a retail store and dog grooming outlet, and the Sit & Stay Café, which offers drinks and sandwiches in addition to doggy treats.<ref name="largestoffleash"/> | The park's green areas are ] and watered and there are publicly accessible bathrooms. Point Isabel includes two businesses aimed at visitors: Mudpuppy's Tub & Scrub, which is a retail store and dog grooming outlet, and the Sit & Stay Café, which offers drinks and sandwiches in addition to doggy treats.<ref name="largestoffleash"/> | ||
| The park |
The park provides biodegradable bags called "mutt mitts" which are worn around the hand to retrieve dog waste. These bags cost the EBRPD about US$34,000 annually.<ref name="largestoffleash"/><ref name="pidoabout"/> | ||
| The parkland has an elevation of 16 to 25 feet (4.9 to 7.6 meters) and also has areas at sea level. There are 3.2 miles (5.1 km) of flat trails which are generally wheel chair accessible and stroller friendly. The trails are of the lowest effort level for hiking which is ideal for those with physical limitations.<ref name="bayhiker"/> The park is fully wheelchair accessible.<ref name="isabelprofile"/> | The parkland has an elevation of 16 to 25 feet (4.9 to 7.6 meters) and also has areas at sea level. There are 3.2 miles (5.1 km) of flat trails which are generally wheel chair accessible and stroller friendly. The trails are of the lowest effort level for hiking which is ideal for those with physical limitations.<ref name="bayhiker"/> The park is fully wheelchair accessible.<ref name="isabelprofile"/> | ||
Revision as of 22:58, 3 September 2007
For other uses, see Point Isabel.| Point Isabel Regional Shoreline | |
|---|---|
| File:Ptisabelmap.gif | |
| Type | Regional (East Bay Regional Parks) |
| Location | Richmond |
| Opened | 1975 |
| Status | Open all year |
Point Isabel Regional Shoreline in Richmond, California, operated by East Bay Regional Parks District, is the largest off-leash dog park in the United States. Point Isabel is an award-winning park with businesses catering to canines, but which also allows many activities for humans. It has easy pedestrian, public transit, and private vehicle access. The park also has a community organization dedicated to the park, PIDO.
History
The 23-acre park was acquired by the East Bay Regional Parks District in 1975 from the United States Postal Service 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 a natural promontory Point Isabel, which was itself named after heritage landowner Victór Castro's daughter Isabel.
Overview
The park is located along the eastern shore of the San Francisco Bay in the East Bay region of the Bay Area and is administered by the East Bay Regional Park District. The park consists of the northern and northwestern shoreline of the promontory of Point Isabel from Hoffman Marsh along the Hoffman Channel to the Eastshore Bay. Hoffman Channel is the outlet of Fluvius Innominatus creek from its mouth at the edge of its delta, Hoffman Marsh; the shoreline is dotted with broken concrete 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 Point Isabel promontory has been modified from its original state by leveling and in-filling of the surrounding mudflats, tidal flats and other wetlands. The northern shore of the park against Hoffman Channel was formerly a sandy beach. The rest of the area consists of a water treatment facility, radio towers, a US Postal Service facility, a Costco store, and office buildings.
Eastshore State Park (ESP), a park made up of wetlands of the Eastshore Estuary, hopes to add Hoffman Marsh and has already incorporated the Albany Mudflats to the south. North Point Isabel Park is already part of ESP.
The park is very well landscaped and offers striking panoramic views of both Marin County mountains, San Francisco and the Golden Gate Bridge. There are miles of hiker trials and hiker and biker trails which are part of the San Francisco Bay Trail.
Many people and their animals go jogging, kiteflying, hiking, walking, biking, picnicking, birding, fishing, and dog-walking. at this location.
The park's green areas are landscaped and watered and there are publicly accessible bathrooms. Point Isabel includes two businesses aimed at visitors: Mudpuppy's Tub & Scrub, which is a retail store and dog grooming outlet, and the Sit & Stay Café, which offers drinks and sandwiches in addition to doggy treats.
The park provides biodegradable bags called "mutt mitts" which are worn around the hand to retrieve dog waste. These bags cost the EBRPD about US$34,000 annually.
The parkland has an elevation of 16 to 25 feet (4.9 to 7.6 meters) and also has areas at sea level. There are 3.2 miles (5.1 km) of flat trails which are generally wheel chair accessible and stroller friendly. The trails are of the lowest effort level for hiking which is ideal for those with physical limitations. The park is fully wheelchair accessible.
Rules
Leashes are optional for dogs in Point Isabel with certain restrictions. Dogs must be docile in demeanor in addition to being within a set distance and under voice control of their guardians. Their guadians must have a leash on-hand, and dispose of their pet's feces with mutt mitts. Hole digging by pets is not allowed and holes must be refilled by owners, dogs who become aggressive must be leashed and all must be in parking areas. Dogs are allowed to swim in Hoffman Channel, they may also swim in the Hoffman Marsh if they do not disturb the wildfowl except during their mating season or while they feed at low tide.
Transportation
The park is served by AC Transit's 52L 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 further into Richmond northwestwards and through Berkeley to Emeryville southwards.
PIDO
Point Isabel Dog Owners and Friends (PIDO) is a community organization that works to raise funds 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 the mutt mitts and promote their use to visitors; self-policing by parkgoers and PIDO members have been credited with making the park feces-free.
PIDO sponsors good citizenship testing and accreditation for dogs as well as events, such as fundraisers, volunteer park cleaning and a dog festival titled: "barktoberfest".
See also
- Point Isabel, the promontory on which the park is situated.
Notes
- ^ Point Isabel Shoreline the largest off-leash dog park in the nation, by Glen Martin, San Francisco Chronicle, August 16, 2004, retrieved July 25, 2007
- ^ Point Isabel profile, East Bay Regional Parks District, retrieved July 25, 2007
- ^ Perfect Picnics, Go dog, go: Bayside playground is a fetching spot for pups and their pals, San Francisco Chronicle, by Karola Saekel, May 23, 2007, retrieved July 30, 2007
- Point Isabel text side, Point Isbael Regional Shorleline Brochure, East Bay Regional Parks District, retrieved August 26, 2007
- ^ El Cerrito Historical Society, Point Isabel, retrieved July 31, 2007
- Point Isabel map side, East Bay Regional Parks District, retrieved August 26, 2007
- News and Announcements, PIDO, July 17, 2007, retrieved July 31, 2007
- ^ Point Isabel Regional Shoreline, Bayhiker, retrieved August 1, 2007
- Dogfriendly, Point Isabel, retrieved July 31, 2007
- ^ About Point Isabel, PIDO, retrieved August 1, 2007
- 52L, complete schedule, AC Transit, June 24, 2007, retrieved July 22, 2007
- Leeways SF, Point Isabel Regional Park, retrieved July 31, 2007
- fd_pointisabelshorelinemap.jpg/Point Isabel Regional Shoreline map, San Francisco Chronicle, retrieved July 31, 2007
- Calendar, PIDO, retrieved August 1, 2007
External links
- Point Isabel Regional Shoreline at the East Bay Regional Parks District website
- Mudpuppy's Tub & Scrub and Sit & Stay Café
- Wikimapia aerial map of Point Isabel
- 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
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