Recommendations for the Eastshore State Park in Berkeley

As passed by the Berkeley Waterfront Commission on September 12 2001

The Berkeley Waterfront Commission recommends the following general land and water use guidelines for the portions of the Eastshore State Park within the City of Berkeley.

These guidelines and recommendations are based on the Waterfront Commission's assessment of the habitat and open space value of the park, and on the unique recreational opportunities offered by the configuration of the Berkeley shoreline, the adjacent Berkeley Marina, and Cesar Chavez Park.

The recommended mix of habitat preservation and recreational development is considered in the context of the large areas of ESP to the north and south that are committed to habitat preservation, and in the context of the need to provide a diverse range of recreational opportunities in the closest possible proximity to the large population centers of Berkeley and the East Bay.

General Use Guidelines

1. Some areas of the ESP in Berkeley should be preserved for open space and wildlife habitat.

2. Some areas of the ESP in Berkeley should be developed for the purpose of maximizing opportunities for human recreation, both on shore and water-borne.

3. Where there are conflicts between water-borne recreation and winter bird populations, these should be resolved by means of seasonal operating restrictions rather than by withdrawing support for these activities from the park plan.

4. Non-motorized and public transit access should be encouraged, but the high demand for parking should also be accommodated.

Specific Recommendations

1. Facilities and improvements supporting non- motorized water-borne recreation in the North Sailing Basin should be developed.

2. Facilities and improvements supporting diverse non-motorized recreational land uses on the North Basin Strip should be developed.

3. Improvements supporting diverse non-motorized recreational land uses (picnic areas, trails, and playing fields) should be developed on some portions of the Meadow and Brickyard. Other portions of the Meadow and Brickyard should be preserved as open space and as wildlife habitat.

4. The parking plan should include a parking lot at the west edge of the Meadow, of sufficient size to serve both the Meadow and Cesar Chavez Park.

Planning Process recommendations

1. Recreational uses and support facilities should be planned in coordination with external demands. Existing parks, programs and activities in the Berkeley Marina have created pressures for additional parking, small craft facilities, and water access on the Berkeley waterfront, and these demands should be addressed by the park plan.

2. A transportation plan should be developed that takes Berkeley Marina and Cesar Chavez Park traffic, particularly during heavily attended public events, into consideration. This plan should consider the possibility of ferry service to the existing terminal in the Marina, and/or to a new terminal at the foot of Gilman Street.