Grizzly Peak - An Awesome New Park!

Here's the view from Grizzly Peak. If you can find a better view in the Bay, I'll eat my hat. If you don't think this view deserves an awesome new park, I'll eat yours too!

Seriously though, Grizzly Peak's pullouts were built in the 30s. Their anything-goes vibe sucks. The best way to transform the mountain into a clean and welcoming space for everyone to enjoy is for the East Bay Regional Park District to develop and manage Grizzly Peak's pullouts as a string of world-class parks:

• The Park District is the nation's leading wildland park expert, and Tilden and its maintenance facilities are right across the road (Grizzly Peak should have been part of Tilden, but whatevs);
  
  
• Oakland doesn't have the resources or bandwidth to manage a remote peak, and UC Berkeley doesn't care about a distant site that doesn't seem to be used by students - the land could be transferred by sale, license, or easement;
  
  
• World-class facilities would deliver real social justice for the site's many BIPOC visitors, who are currently forced to enjoy Grizzly Peak's views amidst an ocean of trash and graffiti;
  
  
• Gated and patrolled pullouts that close at night would drastically reduce the region's crime and fire risks, as well as the sketchy skulls-on-plates vibe;
  
  
• Well-maintained facilities would address the leading concern of park visitors and users - litter, illegal dumping, and blight (see 30:45).

Again, Grizzly Peak's owners have $7 billion in the bank, and the Park District is right across the road. Here's who to reach out to if you'd like to help transform this cultural and environmental asset into an awesome new park for everyone to enjoy. Keep your message short and friendly, tell a story, and don't forget that these folks work for us!

UC Berkeley. As shown on this map, Cal owns most of the numbered pullouts and trashed areas to the west of the road. Contacts include the UC Regents, the Office of Sustainability, the Facilities Department and its head, Felix DeLeon ([email protected]), and the Zero Waste Program and its head, Lin King ([email protected]).

Oakland and Alameda County. Oakland owns Grizzly Peak Boulevard and approximately 12' off the pavement on either side. Contacts include Janani Ramachandran (Oakland District 4), Oakland Public Works, and OAK311. In addition, Nikki Fortunato Bas represents Alameda County District 5, which includes Grizzly Peak.

State and Beyond. Buffy Wicks (State Assembly District 14), Tim Grayson (State Senate District 9), Brent Blackaby, Berkeley District 6 (Grizzly Peak is outside Berkeley's city limits, but his district has strong sway), and Gavin Newsom (Governor).

And here's that view again!