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53-532: The park was one of the first three parks established by the East Bay Regional Parks District (EBRPD) in 1936. It was originally named Round Top Regional Park . Round Top (elevation 1,761 feet [537 m]) is named for an extinct volcano in the Oakland Hills which started to erupt 10.2 Million years ago. It is home to at least two stone labyrinths of recent origin. The park was renamed after

106-417: A 1,900 acres (770 ha) tract of land formerly known as Roddy Ranch in east Contra Costa County. The tract lies south of Antioch and west of Brentwood . The cost was reported as $ 14.24 million. Funding will also be provided by California Wildlife Conservation Board and an unidentified private foundation. The acquisition does not include Roddy Ranch Golf Club or about 240 acres of privately owned land inside

159-692: A 192-acre tract known as Mollar Ranch to EBRPD. The tract adjoins the Black Diamond Mines Regional Preserve on Somerville Road in Antioch, California. EBRPD plans to use the property to create a northern entrance to the preserve. The price agreed upon is $ 305,000. Funding is expected to come from the California Wildlife Protection Act and East Bay Regional Parks Measure WW funds. EBRPD announced on February 17, 2014, that it had acquired 362 acres (146 ha) of woodland on

212-399: A 50 acres (20 ha) hillside in Antioch, between Black Diamond Mines Regional Preserve and Contra Loma Regional Park, and bought 80 acres (32 ha)near Byron Vernon Pools Regional Preserve for $ 520,000. The 50-acre hillside, valued at $ 3.5 million, was donated to EBRPD by Suncrest Homes and Antioch Holdings LLC, a Suncrest land-holding subsidiary. The Byron tract is being purchased through

265-456: A governmental area or by their governmental representatives. Special districts possess some form of civil office , that is, the board has received a delegation of sovereign power from the state. Some boards may be appointed by only landowners. Private entities may appoint some or all of the members of a special district; however, there must be evidence of civil office. In addition to special districts with privately appointed boards,

318-513: A single function or a set of related functions. The term special district governments as defined by the U.S. Census Bureau excludes school districts . In 2017, the U.S. had more than 51,296 special district governments. The United States Census counts government units across all States. This includes "special districts". To count the special districts the Census must define the special districts so as to address all such governmental entities across

371-426: A special district government, rather than as a subordinate agency, an entity must possess three attributes—existence as an organized entity, governmental character, and substantial autonomy. Each state description also lists various statutory authorities, commissions, corporations, and other forms of organizations that have certain governmental characteristics, but are subject by law to administrative or fiscal control by

424-451: A special district may have a privately founded board; however, such a board could not be given the power to set a tax. There is a citizen-government fiscal accountability relationship. To maintain accountability for special districts, states must maintain ultimate control (the power to repeal the authorizing law at any time). Due to public foundation and, thus, ultimate control, the state can freely delegate sovereign power (such as

477-521: A special district that could obtain water from the Mokelumne River and pump it directly to customers. The East Bay Municipal District (EBMUD) was formed and approved by the electorate. In 1930, the Olmsted Brothers and Ansel F. Hall created a "Report on proposed park reservations for East Bay cities, California" The EBRPD was founded in 1934, and acquired its first land two years later, when

530-645: A temporary and interim basis to reduce public access to Mission Peak in Fremont, using a media strategy designed by political consultant George Manross. [1] [2] The parks in the East Bay Regional Park District were badly affected by the various lightning complex fires plaguing the Bay Area in August 2020. The fires enveloped the Bay Area in a layer of smoke and forced the closures of many national parks within

583-580: A variety of visitor attractions, with opportunities for swimming , boating and camping . The trails are frequently used for non-motorized transportation such as biking , hiking , and horse riding . More than 200 miles (320 km) of paved trails (identified as Interpark Regional Trails) through urban areas link the parks together. A destructive grass fire that broke out in Wildcat Canyon blew west into Berkeley on September 17, 1923, and burned down 640 structures, mostly homes. The East Bay Water Company

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636-781: Is a special district operating in Alameda County and Contra Costa County, California , within the East Bay area of the San Francisco Bay Area. It maintains and operates a system of regional parks which is the largest urban regional park district in the United States. The administrative office is located in Oakland. As of 2020, EBRPD spans 124,909 acres (50,549 ha) with 73 parks and over 1,330 miles (2,140 km) of trails. Some of these parks are wilderness areas; others include

689-584: Is a member of the Bay Area Open Space Council . East Bay Lifeguards can work at eleven different facilities. Special-purpose district Special districts (also known as special service districts, special district governments , or limited purpose entities ) are independent, special-purpose governmental units that exist separately from local governments such as county , municipal , and township governments, with substantial administrative and fiscal independence. They are formed to perform

742-738: Is a powerful spot." Notwithstanding the official gate hours listed below, Friends of the Labyrinth claims that the labyrinth has visitors 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The next marker along the Round Top Loop Trail leads to the Volcanic Trail, which crosses to the left. At Post No. 4, the hiker can see a smaller, heart-shaped labyrinth. It is not nearly as elaborate as the Mazzariello Labyrinth, and apparently not as heavily used. There have been claims of other, earlier labyrinths hidden in

795-406: Is a restricted region of the park. The area consists of pure basalt around 100 feet (30 m) wide, as well as "autobrecciating basaltic flow" which occurs when lava continues to flow under a cooled surface. There are several trails in the preserve. Most are restricted to hiking and horseback use and only a few are available for multi-purpose use. Round Top Road is paved from the visitor center to

848-418: Is closed to the public. In 2013, EBRPD began acquiring Roddy Ranch a 1,900 acres (770 ha) additional tract in east Contra Costa County. The new acquisition will create a nearly continuous offer zone of undeveloped land in eastern Contra Costa County from Black Diamond Mines Regional Park to Marsh Creek. In 2013, EBRPD announced plans to acquire 1,000 acres (4.0 km ) of grazing land southwest of

901-408: Is known as the Mazzariello Labyrinth. Constructed in 1990 and donated as a "gift to the world" by East Bay resident Helena Mazzariello, it is a favorite destination for hikers who come to pray, meditate, and examine talismans left in the center by previous visitors. In this labyrinth, she would walk her goats, stating that, "I can enter with a question, and inevitably, I will emerge with some insight. It

954-511: The East Bay Municipal Utility District sold 2,166 acres (877 ha) of its surplus land. The founders of the district included Robert Sibley , a hiking enthusiast, Hollis Thompson, then Berkeley City Manager, and Charles Lee Tilden , among others. William Penn Mott Jr. served as director of the agency from 1962 to 1967, and oversaw a doubling of the system's acreage from 10,500 to 22,000. In June 2013, EBRPD purchased

1007-646: The Orinda Formation and the Claremont Formation . From the Orinda Formation rocks include "river gravel, sandstone, and mudstone." The river gravel are red in color. The sandstones are around 65 million years old. From the Claremont Formation, rocks include marine rocks. The surface of the basalt found on the dike of Round Top are of the color "light brownish or rusty gray" and the interior of

1060-823: The Point Pinole Regional Shoreline north of Richmond , the Coyote Hills Regional Park near Fremont , the Martin Luther King Jr. Regional Shoreline on San Leandro Bay , and the Oyster Bay Regional Shoreline south of the Oakland International Airport . The district also includes a former farm, a former coal mine , an extinct volcano, and one of the biggest dog-walking parks in the US. Redwood Regional Park contains

1113-535: The Alameda Creek Alliance, announced the acquisition of a 79 acres (32 ha) land parcel known as "Eddie's Flat, adjacent to the western boundary of Brushy Peak Regional Preserve. The district maintains a police department and a fire department. A volunteer organization that supports the work of EBRPD, the Regional Parks Foundation raises funds for the improvement of the parks. The EBRPD

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1166-476: The Bay Area Ridge Trail and 3 miles (4.8 km) of other trails. Subsequently, park use was pushed back. As of 2007, the opening was expected by 2010. In 2010, EBRPD directors were expecting it would open soon. In 2011, EBRPD put the start in 2012. As of January 2015, EBRPD pointed to late 2015; while as of May 2015, the district pointed to spring 2016. A 2012 settlement agreement between EBRPD and

1219-669: The Bay Area including all parks in the East Bay Regional Parks District. The parks administered by the EBRPD vary greatly in size and character. Particularly notable are the string of parks along the Berkeley Hills above and east of both Berkeley and Oakland , including Wildcat Canyon Regional Park , Tilden Regional Park , Robert Sibley Volcanic Regional Preserve , Huckleberry Botanic Regional Preserve , and Redwood Regional Park . There are also bay shore parks such as

1272-598: The East Contra Costa County Habitat Conservancy, a joint-powers authority created by the county, Brentwood. Oakley, Pittsburg and Next Era Energy. EBRPD announced in September 2016 that it had finalized the purchase of 76 acres (31 ha) of ranch land east of Mount Diablo, near Antioch and Brentwood. The tract was identified only as the Hanson Hills property, which had previously been bought by

1325-587: The Incorporated Guardians of the Poor, which were created by special acts in the 17th century. Turnpike trusts were an early and popular special purpose authority in England. Internal drainage boards are current examples in parts of England and Wales. The state of Illinois leads the nation in the number of special districts with California close behind. State counts of their special districts may differ from

1378-510: The Roddy Ranch tract for $ 5 million. It will provide hiking and recreation services, and protect habitat for rare species such as the California red-legged frog. The combined Dainty and Roddy tracts will form the future Deer Valley Regional Park near Antioch and Brentwood. James Ball Dainty, a rancher and coal miner, acquired Dainty Ranch in 1872. Antioch Unified School District agreed to sell

1431-588: The Save Mount Diablo conservation group. EBRPD reported that it had paid $ 730,000 for this property, which it intends to include in the Deer Valley Regional Park. The East Contra Costa County Habitat Conservancy contributed $ 547,000 to the purchase, and the remainder was supplied from the regional park Measure WW bonds approved by East Bay voters. Deer Valley Regional Park remains in Land Bank status and

1484-590: The United States are founded by some level of government in accordance with state law (either constitutional amendment, general law, or special acts) and exist in all states. Special districts are legally separate entities with at least some corporate powers. Districts are created by legislative action, court action, or public referendum . The procedures for creating a special district may include procedures such as petitions , hearings, voter or landowner approval, or government approval. Tribal governments may create special districts pursuant to state law and may serve on

1537-528: The United States follow the English custom. The earliest known general law in England authorizing special purpose authorities was the Statute of Sewers of 1532. Single purpose authorities created by individual charters also existed at the time. However, the early authorities were temporary and unconnected to local government structure. The first laws authorizing permanent authorities connected to local governments were

1590-470: The basalt is of the color "gun steel blue." A bake zone is a region where heat from the lava of the volcano changed the color of the surrounding rocks to red. Such rocks include rhyolite tuff, lapilli agglomerate, and vesicular basalt. Rhyolite tuff are remnants of ash from a northern volcano around 4 miles (6.4 km) away. Lapilli agglomerate are remnants of volcanic cinders. Vesicular basalt are remnants of gas bubbles from cooling lava. The Stone Property

1643-1037: The board. The board of a special district serves primarily as a managing board and often appoints a chief executive for day-to-day operations and decision making and policy implementation. In the New England states, special districts are often run in the same town meeting fashion as other local governments. Most districts have employees, but some districts exist solely to raise funds by issuing bonds and/or by providing tax increment financing . Special districts perform many functions including airports , ports , highways , mass transit , parking facilities , fire protection , libraries , parks , cemeteries , hospitals , irrigation , conservation , sewerage , wastewater treatment , solid waste , fiber optic systems , stadiums , water supply , electric power , and natural gas utility . Special districts are authorized by state law and must have public foundation, civil office , and public accountability . Special districts in

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1696-403: The boards of special districts. Special districts, like all public entities, have public foundation. The landmark case of the U.S. Supreme Court addressing public versus private charters was Dartmouth College v. Woodward in 1819. Dartmouth established the fundamental differences between public and private organizations. Critically, a government must be founded by all of the people of

1749-407: The broad spectrum of 50 states' definitions and interpretations. The Census's full definition is: Special district governments are independent, special purpose governmental units, other than school district governments, that exist as separate entities with substantial administrative and fiscal independence from general purpose local governments. As defined for Census Bureau statistics on governments,

1802-436: The east side of Wildcat Canyon Regional Park, which will be added to the existing park. The property is hilly with a mixture of laurels, oaks and native grasses. Fauna include mountain lions, coyotes, deer and hawks. The property had been owned by a developer who had intended to build 36 houses on it, before the recent collapse of real estate prices. On April 3, 2014, two conservation groups, Center for Biological Diversity and

1855-426: The improvements required by the settlement agreement prior to opening," which had "very specific road widening requirements." The order applied to access by motor vehicles, as well as to access by non-motorized users for hiking, bicycling and horse riding, with immediate effect. "The park could remain closed for months or years," until the improvements are completed. On May 2, 2017, EBRPD announced that it had settled

1908-562: The largest remaining natural stand of coast redwood in the East Bay. Interpark Regional Trails connect various Regional Parks. Their routes may take them through other parks, along creeks and channels, or even down streets and sidewalks in urbanized areas. The list below does not include trails that exist inside single parks. Around 1995, EBRPD acquired 1,200 acres (490 ha) of the Vargas Plateau in Fremont, with 1.5 miles (2.4 km) of

1961-649: The lavas that underlie the East Bay ridges from Inspiration Point in Tilden Regional Park to Moraga . Geologists refer to this local volcanism as the Moraga Volcanics . Subsequent compressive strains produced by various local faults such as the Hayward Fault folded the lava-bearing rock formations, tilting the Round Top vent complex on its side. The results of such compressive strains of local faults has altered

2014-742: The lawsuit, and that the park would reopen on May 15, 2017. EBRPD said that it agreed to construct a paved shoulder along Vargas Road, and a vehicle turnaround on the upper part of Morrison Canyon Road. It also announced that the City of Fremont had agreed to contribute part of the necessary funds. One quarter of the District is designated as "land banks," with no public access. The conversion of that open space to public use as regional parks has no fixed time line, and may span decades. Some parcels may never be converted. Early in March 2019, EBRPD announced that it had finalized

2067-739: The less conspicuous tasks of mosquito abatement and upkeep of cemeteries. The Census Bureau classification of special district governments covers a wide variety of entities, most of which are officially called districts or authorities. Not all public agencies so termed, however, represent separate governments. Many entities that carry the designation "district" or "authority" are, by law, so closely related to county, municipal, town or township, or state governments that they are classified as subordinate agencies of those governments in Census Bureau statistics on governments, and are not counted as separate special district governments. In order to be classified as

2120-417: The owners of two large nearby ranches required the construction of improvements to park access roads. EBRPD and the city of Fremont agreed in 2013 to undertake them jointly, using $ 260,000 of funding by EBRPD and performed by the city. The park opened on May 5, 2016. However, the park was closed by a court-issued preliminary injunction on July 13, 2016. The court found that the park district "did not complete

2173-538: The power to tax) to special districts and can allow them to act autonomously with little supervision. There is little information available on the earliest special districts in the United States. It is known that park districts existed in the 18th century. Toll road and canal corporations existed in the 19th century. The first general statute authorizing irrigation districts was adopted by California in 1887. The U.S. Census Bureau began identifying and collecting data on special districts in 1942. Special districts in

Robert Sibley Volcanic Regional Preserve - Misplaced Pages Continue

2226-413: The preserves, but Friends of the Labyrinth dismisses these as urban legends, as no evidence has been found. The organization reports that analysis of high-resolution aerial photographs show no trace of such activity. The park is open year-round. The park and gate hours are: There is no parking fee and no dog fee. East Bay Regional Parks District The East Bay Regional Park District ( EBRPD )

2279-446: The project boundary. The East Contra Costa County Habitat Conservancy will install gates, fencing and signs around the tract in the coming year, while the sale is in escrow. The new area will likely be named Deer Valley Regional Park. In 2016, Vargas Plateau Regional Park in Fremont was the first park ever to have been shut down as the result of legal action in the more than 80-year history of EBRPD. During 2014, EBRPD cut park hours on

2332-466: The purchase of 160 acres (65 ha) in unincorporated Contra Costa County, from the Grove family. Funding of $ 1.24 million was provided by Measure WW. The parcel is about 3 miles (4.8 km) northwest of Livermore , and is bounded on the south by the proposed Doolan Canyon Regional Preserve . The other sides are bounded by private ranches and farmland. A park spokesman said that the parcel, "... will protect

2385-547: The second president of the EBRPD, Robert Sibley , shortly after his death. U.C. Berkeley Professor Emeritus Garniss Curtis studied the Sibley Regional Preserve extensively, dating the volcano to be 10.2 million years old. Since 10.2 million years ago, the Pacific tectonic plate has slowly pushed the volcano north. The preserve contains a Pliocene epoch volcanic center that, about ten million years ago, produced most of

2438-620: The state or by independent local governments; therefore, they are classified as subordinate agencies of those governments. Special districts serve limited areas and have governing boards that accomplish legislatively assigned functions using public funds . Each district is governed by a board of directors , commissioners , board of supervisors , or the like. These boards may be appointed by public officials , appointed by private entities, popularly elected, or elected by benefited citizens (typically, property owners). Sometimes, one or more public officials will serve as an ex officio member on

2491-518: The term "special district governments" excludes school district governments as they are defined as a separate governmental type. Special district governments provide specific services that are not being supplied by existing general purpose governments. Most perform a single function, but in some instances, their enabling legislation allows them to provide several, usually related, types of services. The services provided by these districts range from such basic social needs as hospitals and fire protection, to

2544-537: The top of Round Top . There are no picnic areas in the preserve; however, there are plenty of benches good for a rest, view and snack, as well as a campground. The visitor center at the Skyline Boulevard entrance is unstaffed and offers brochures for self-guided tours. It also features depictions of the region's geology. At least two man-made labyrinths exist within RSVRP. The first, and arguably most frequently visited,

2597-403: The upper reaches of Doolan Canyon for 'habitat protection, open space preservation, and potential recreational opportunities.'" According to Sciacca's article, EBRPD had already purchased 640 acres (260 ha) adjacent to the Grove tract with funding from Altamont County (Altamont Landfill Open Space Landfill Fund, the City of Livermore, East Bay Community Foundation and Measure WW The price

2650-513: The volcano's original landscape, and Round Top now tilts towards the east. Such local faults, notably Hayward and Moraga , have also caused the volcano to form a trough that is the Siesta/Gateway Valley . Folding, erosion, and a quarry operation exposed a cross section of the volcano, providing an excellent means to study a California Coast Ranges volcano. The mountain Round Top is not

2703-452: The volcano. The ancient volcano has eroded away. It has also tilted on its side, so it doesn't look like a volcano. ( https://www.kqed.org/news/11876393/wait-there-was-a-volcano-in-the-east-bay-hills ) The construction corporation Kaiser Sand & Gravel used the region as a quarry, leaving the volcanic region open and exposed. Lava within the vent has been dated by UC Berkeley at 9.5 million years old. The region has remnants of rocks from

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2756-595: Was $ 6.4 million. EBRPD says that the Doolan Canyon area is habitat for the endangered species Alameda whip snake and red-legged frog . It also supports other "special status" species and some rare alkali soil plants. The parcel will remain in land bank status until a land-use plan is written and approved. Making it into a park will require environmental assessments and community input, which could take many years, according to EBRPD. Meanwhile, EBRPD's holdings are known as Doolan Canyon Regional Preserve EBRPD acquired

2809-403: Was harshly criticized for its failure to deliver enough water to successfully fight the fire. Much of the problem arose from having a system of small private water companies who obtained water either from their own wells or from runoff, then pumped the water to the water companies' wells, Chabot and Temescal. A state law was passed that enabled citizens of Alameda and Contra Costa Counties to create

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