Coyote Hills Restoration and Public Access Project

East Bay Regional Park District
Implementation, Planning and Design
Photo of Coyote Hills
Grant Amount:

$450,000 was awarded for planning and design in 2019. And additional $3,500,000 was awarded in 2021 for implementation. 

Location:

Coyote Hills Regional Park, City of Fremont, Alameda County, East Bay Region

Project Phases Funded by this Grant:

Planning/ Design, Implementation

Measure AA Program Category:

Safe, Clean Water and Pollution Prevention Program; Vital Fish, Bird and Wildlife Habitat Program; Shoreline Public Access Program

Summary:

2023 UPDATE: Construction continues and expected to be complete in late 2023 or early 2024.  Extreme winter storms in early 2023 delayed the project's construction.

***

2022 UPDATE: On June 18, 2021, the Board of the Restoration Authority awarded $3,500,000 to the East Bay Regional Park District to implement habitat restoration and public access improvements on a 205-acre portion of the Coyote Hills Regional Park. This project will implement the design and planning work funded by the Authority on December 6, 2019 (below). The proposed construction will increase the area and habitat quality of wet meadow, seasonal wetland, willow thicket and mixed riparian forest, and establish oak savannah grasslands habitat, riparian forest, and seasonal wetlands. The project will also install over 4 miles of trails, wildlife overlooks, parking, restrooms, picnic areas, interpretive exhibits, and an outdoor classroom for environmental education and naturalist programs as well as volunteer opportunities

***

This project will prepare final designs and permit applications for development of a 306-acre eastward expansion to nearly double the size of Coyote Hills Regional Park. Pre-construction land management activities and ecology studies will also be conducted. 

Coyote Hills Regional Park is one of the few places left around the Bay with natural transitions between diverse habitats, such as open water, salt marsh, brackish, fresh and seasonal marshes, grasslands, and upland riparian, willow, and oak forests. This rare combination of habitats provides valuable wildlife habitat and unique recreational opportunities for Bay Area residents.

The project will plan for improvements including:

  • Restoration of rare high value habitat along the Bay margin;
  • A safe and welcoming access way for pedestrians, bikes and cars along Paseo Padre Parkway;
  • Public access features including a parking lot, restrooms, picnic area, interpretive exhibits, 4.5 miles of trail and wildlife overlooks;
  • Trail linkages to the regional San Francisco Bay Trail and Alameda Creek Trail;
  • Retention of an organic farm that will present educational opportunities for the public;
  • Locating and destroying historic wells that pose a risk for groundwater contamination.
SFBRA Logo