East Bay Regional Park Districts urging public and their dogs not to enter closed parks

By: Roger Coryell
Closed park sign

Most East Bay Regional Parks remain closed due to recent storms and conditions, including downed trees, falling branches, flooding and mudslides. Storm damage in parks can create potential safety hazards that cannot be predicted.

The Park District advises the public to follow all park signage and avoid closed parks and areas with caution tape. If an emergency occurs in a closed park or area, public safety personnel and equipment may not respond quickly due to road and trail conditions.

“We need the public to heed all park closure signs and not enter or park in closed parks. Your safety is paramount,” said East Bay Regional Park District Fire Chief Aileen Theile. “Rescues in closed parks can also put first responders at risk. Help keep yourself and first responders safe by staying out of closed parks. It may not seem unsafe, but the dangers and potential for injury or loss of life are real.”

Anyone entering Regional Parks when closed is subject to citation or arrest for violating the Park District’s Ordinance 38.

Most East Bay Regional Parks have been closed since Wednesday, Jan. 4, 2023. Only some shoreline and delta parks are currently open. See list.

Check the Park District’s website, ebparks.org, for the latest information on individual park status before going. And heed all park closure signs and warnings about hazards. Your safety depends on it.

The East Bay Regional Park District is the most extensive regional park system in the nation, with 73 parks, 55 miles of shoreline, and over 1,300 miles of trails for hiking, biking, horseback riding, and environmental education. The Park District receives more than 25 million visits annually throughout Alameda and Contra Costa counties in the San Francisco Bay Area.