Land in Pleasanton and Livermore Listed as Potential New Parks on East Bay Master Plan

By Autumn Johnson

On Tuesday, the East Bay Regional Parks Board voted unanimously 7-0 to approve the 2013 Master Plan that lists 16 potential new parks in the East Bay. Two of the sites indicated on the Master Plan Map are in the Tri-Valley, one in Livermore and one in Pleasanton.

According to Mike Anderson, Assistant General Manager of Planning/Stewardship & Development for the East Bay Regional Park District, the Livermore location on the master plan map has generated some controversy.

"The Potential Park area labeled 'Tesla' is located near to the Carnegie State Vehicular Recreation Area," Anderson said. "That area was bought by the state using 'green sticker money' which is money collected through the California DMV for off-road vehicles. That property also has some historical buildings, Native American artifacts and important natural resources."

Anderson says some of the off-road enthusiasts that use Carnegie are feeling angst over the potential that the East Bay Regional Parks might impede their right to use the land to expand Carnegie. 

The state has issued an environmental impact report on the proposed expansion of Carnegie on to Tesla land, according to Anderson. 

"The results of the analysis made for the environmental impact report will either allow the Carnegie expansion into Tesla or suggested that certain areas should be protected," Anderson said. "Either way, the state will have to find a way to use the land."

According to Anderson, land that is not suitable to be used for the expansion of Carnegie will likely require the State of California to sell it or trade the "green sticker" money used to buy it with other monies and possibly partner with the East Bay Regional Parks to utilize the land.

Anderson added, "Tesla was marked on the map in the master plan in 2007 under the 'potential regional preserve classification' and the East Bay Regional Parks has held six town hall style meetings about the master plan process."

Also in the plan approved last night is the Pleasanton gravel quarry located near the Shadow Cliffs Recreation Area.

Anderson called that area, which is currently four to five gravel pits full of water, the "Chain of Lakes" and says the East Bay Regional Parks has suggested that the area would work well as a group of small lakes once the pits become exhausted. 

Anderson said the area could be turned into small lakes and trails and could be used for boating, fishing and recreation along with being a possible storage for replenishing aquifers. 

Anderson cited the 15-year-old Quarry Lakes in Fremont as an example of how the "Chain of Lakes" in Pleasanton would work.

"The Quarry Lakes in Fremont is 400 acres of water and 100 acres of land that was developed with the East Bay Regional Parks and Zone 7 Water," Anderson explained. "It was a gravel pit and the water comes from the Alameda Creek in the spring. That water recharges the aquifer and downstream people with wells us that water for irrigation. It is a nice amenity and keeps the aquifer replenished."