Chevron Donates Easement To Park District  for Bay Trail

Chevron is joining efforts with the East Bay Regional Park District (EBRPD) to expand public access to Richmond’s Point San Pablo Peninsula along the San Pablo Bay. Chevron agreed to donate an easement over a portion of its property to allow EBRPD to construct, operate and maintain a public multi-use recreational trail along the shoreline. 

At its upcoming November 3 board meeting, the East Park District Board of Directors will formally accept a trail easement donation from Chevron located near its refinery operations in West Contra Costa County.

The proposed easement donation by Chevron consists of two segments: a southern segment beginning at the foot of the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge and running north to the former U.S. Naval Fuel Depot at Point Molate; and a northern segment, which runs north of the former depot past Point Orient to a point just south of Point San Pablo Yacht Club.

The Park District’s 1997 Master Plan identifies the San Pablo peninsula as a location for a regional park at Point Molate, and the San Francisco Bay Trail Plan shows a Bay Trail spur running along the shoreline of the San Pablo peninsula.   “Chevron’s generous donation goes a long way to supporting the Park District’s interests in expanding the Bay Trail and providing more public access to the Richmond shoreline.” said Pat O’Brien, East Bay Regional Park District General Manager. 

Chevron’s donation to the Park District includes a 20-foot wide easement over portions of Chevron’s refinery property. The easement follows the former Richmond Beltline Railroad/Castro Point Railway corridor, located generally along the San Pablo peninsula shoreline.  Park District land acquisition staff and Chevron have been working together for several years to secure access to this important but previously unavailable parcel to extend the Bay Trail.  “With Chevron’s help, the Richmond community will have more trail access and future open space parkland along the waterfront, which has long been a part of the Park District’s master plan,” said Bob Doyle, Assistant General Manager of Land Acquisition and Advanced Planning.    

The 1988 Measure AA included funding for the acquisition of key parcels for a park and trail at this location.  On November 6, 2007, the Board of Directors approved the Master Plan for the San Francisco Bay Trail, with a spur extending from the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge to Point San Pablo.

This segment of the San Francisco Bay Trail crosses various ownerships, including property owned by the City of Richmond and Chevron.  The District and Chevron both recognize that some of the former railroad right-of-way may no longer be suitable for construction of the trail, with portions of the corridor having subsided over time.  Chevron has agreed to cooperate with the District to develop a mutually acceptable realignment of the trail, as close to the original corridor alignment as physically possible, in order to provide safe use of the trail and to maximize the visual enjoyment for trail users. 

“This contribution by Chevron brings us all one step closer to enjoying the recreational opportunities made possible by the Bay Trail,” said Mike Coyle, General Manager of Chevron’s Richmond Refinery. “We believe that working together with all key partners helps move the project toward completion.”

Added Coyle, “Chevron remains fully supportive of the Bay Trail, a valued Bay Area natural resource. We believe that there is reason for optimism for a timely completion of the spur trail along the beautiful waterfront from Point Richmond to Point San Pablo,” added Coyle.

“The District wishes to acknowledge Chevron’s cooperation and generosity in providing this trail easement at no cost to the public,” said General Manager O’Brien.  Chevron’s donation will offer opportunities for public access to the scenic San Pablo Bay shoreline with unobstructed views of the San Pablo Bay, the Brothers Islands, Red Rock Island, the Sisters Islands and vistas of Marin County including the Tiburon peninsula, Mt. Tamalpais, China Camp State Park, Angel Island State Park and portions of the San Francisco Bay.

According to the terms of the planned agreement, the East Bay Regional Park District will be responsible for all costs associated with said recreational trail, including the cost to engineer the trail alignment, surveying and title costs, which are estimated to be $100,000.

Download > Board Materials for November 3, 2009 Meeting and Project Map (PDF)