California State Parks and California State Parks Foundation Kick Off New Park Improvements at Yosemite Slough | Cal Parks

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: JULY 13, 2020

Improvements to Candlestick Point State Recreation Area include planting, infrastructure projects and completion of the Bay Trail

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif.—  California State Parks and California State Parks Foundation broke ground today at Candlestick Point State Recreation Area. The construction work will be done by local, San Francisco Bayview-Hunters Point contractor Minerva Construction at an estimated cost of $5.2 million and a completion date of approximately eight months. The new park improvements will include the core infrastructure needed to maintain and operate the park’s north Yosemite Slough shoreline area, along with planting thousands of native trees, shrubs and plants.

For the past 20 years, California State Parks Foundation has been deeply committed to restoring the Yosemite Slough portion of Candlestick Point State Recreation Area and opening it to the community for public access, education and improvement of community health. Historically a tidal marsh inhabited by the Ramaytush Ohlone people and a critical stopover for migrating birds, Yosemite Slough was altered during industrial development and became covered with dilapidated warehouses and construction debris. Phase 1 of the project was successfully completed in June 2012, a $12.2 million wetlands restoration project located along the northern shoreline of Yosemite Slough. 

“California State Parks Foundation is dedicated to improving parks and ensuring access, making sure all communities feel welcome in their local parks,” said Rachel Norton, Executive Director of California State Parks Foundation. “This has been a great partnership with California State Parks. Phase 2 of this project means we are one step closer to our vision of a park that will serve the local communities unfairly impacted by environmental degradation. “   

“California State Parks is excited to partner with the California State Parks Foundation on this project which will help enrich the community of Bayview-Hunters Point,” said Maria Mowrey, Bay Area District Superintendent, California State Parks. “This much-needed restoration project is at the heart of the department’s mission and strives to enhance the accessibility of the natural and scenic beauty of the San Francisco Bay shoreline. State Parks is thankful for the funding it receives from the California State Parks Foundation and its generous supporters.”

Community engagement and participation in park design and long-term use has been a priority since the project planning stages in the early 2000s. In 2016, a Candlestick Point State Recreation Area Interpretive Planning Advisory Committee made up of local educators, park professionals, environmental organizations and community leaders helped draft a new Interpretation Master Plan and provided ideas for educational programming at the park.   

California State Parks Foundation created a strategic, multi-phased approach for Phase 2 to address rapidly escalating construction costs, and in the interest of making Yosemite Slough accessible and open to the public. Project elements include:

  • Add pedestrian cross ramps and cross walks at the intersection of Thomas and Griffith Streets;
  • Reconfigure the Griffith Street terminus from four lanes to two lanes, including on-street parking
  • Install underground utilities under Griffith Street and bring them to the site including potable water, fire protection, sanitary sewer, electricity, telecommunications, and outdoor lighting;
  • Add new pedestrian sidewalk and entrance plaza from the intersection of Thomas and Griffith Streets to the park entrance, including street trees and landscaping;
  • Plant street trees and landscaping along Thomas Street;
  • Add fencing around the park perimeter;
  • Create new park entrance gate and integrate park sign with State Parks emblem;
  • Improve main parking lot with staging area and ADA pedestrian/bicyclist connection to the SF Bay Trail;
  • Complete final alignment and surfacing of the SF Bay Trail including all required signage;
  • Install native plants along the edge of the tidal marsh to complete the tidal marsh restoration;
  • Install an irrigation system to support the new planting areas and the future expansion of the park;
  • Test installations of upgraded site furnishings;
  • Add facilities to support San Francisco Public Utilities Commission maintenance access easement.

Support for Phase 2 is generously provided by California State Coastal Conservancy, the Richard and Rhoda Goldman Foundation, the California Natural Resources Agency (Urban Greening), Hellman Foundation, William Randolph Hearst Foundation, S.D. Bechtel, Jr. Foundation, the Barkley Fund, Arlin Weinberger, Union Bank of California, California State Parks, and California State Parks Foundation Board Members. 

California State Parks Foundation remains steadfast in achieving the vision of increased park access in southeastern San Francisco, one of the most park-poor and economically disadvantaged areas of the City. To learn more about California State Parks Foundation and the Yosemite Slough Access Project, visit calparks.org/yosemiteslough.

Contact

Sarah Melbostad

818-760-2121

smelbostad@fionahuttonassoc.com