Good job everyone who spoke out about these walkways and eastern shoreline access! The city has finally come back with more information about the ownership and saner proposals for their use. There are still some issues to speak out about though.

The new recommendations are out

The recommendations in a nutshell.

The city does not own, but does have easements on 5 out of 6 of the pathways. The does not have any right to public access at Eastshore @ Meyers St. Staff recommends: Pathway F @ Meyers remain closed to the public.

@ Meyers remain closed to the public. Staff recommends: no public access on the Fernside Blvd @ Fairview Ave pathway C . The city should keep this path. The rationale that the pathway is dangerous because there are drivers backing out of their garages is fallacy. We have plenty of places where this is the case. Staff should also refrain from stating that reducing this pathway is consistent with Vision Zero. BWA recommends: Keep this pathway open. Add a shorter, nicer gate to the end. With this pathway, the public will maintain five view/access points to the water.

. The city should keep this path. The rationale that the pathway is dangerous because there are drivers backing out of their garages is fallacy. We have plenty of places where this is the case. Staff should also refrain from stating that reducing this pathway is consistent with Vision Zero. BWA recommends: Keep this pathway open. Add a shorter, nicer gate to the end. With this pathway, the public will maintain five view/access points to the water. For pathways A (Fernside near High) and B (Fernside @ MonteVista), staff recommends using the full easement, while reducing the waterside bulb-out to 35′ wide and 30′ from the water’s edge, removing gates, adding safety improvements and amenities.

(Fernside near High) and (Fernside @ MonteVista), staff recommends using the full easement, while reducing the waterside bulb-out to 35′ wide and 30′ from the water’s edge, removing gates, adding safety improvements and amenities. For pathway D Eastshore @ Liberty staff recommends keeping almost the full easement open to the public by moving fences and adding amenities. However, staff also does not recommend a watercraft launch area. BWA recommends: adding a launch area.

Eastshore @ Liberty staff recommends keeping almost the full easement open to the public by moving fences and adding amenities. However, staff also does not recommend a watercraft launch area. BWA recommends: adding a launch area. For pathway E Eastshore @ Central staff recommends keeping the full easement open to the public and adding amenities. .

What you can do

Read the report and staff recommendations

Write a letter to Recreation and Party Commission

Come to the meeting. Thursday, June 13, 7PM City Hall. Recreation and Park Commission meeting.

The recommendations

The city’s current plan is to transfer the majority of east end public waterfront to private land owners

Which one would you prefer?

View from Fernside Blvd and Central Ave public walkway

“Waterfront”, “public” walkway at Eastshore Drive and Meyers Ave.

map of public access walkways

In the study area of .8 miles from Lincoln Middle School to High Street, the city owns 305 feet of waterfront property. Approximately half has been encroached upon with private decks, docks and trees or completely closed to the public with private gates and fences.

The Feasibility Study assumes that most of this land will be given over to private ownership since they have already built private amenities on it.

March 4, 2019: According to public information officer, Sarah Henry, “the City of Alameda City Attorney’s Office has since conducted an in-depth review of ownership of the pathways and will be discussing this issue with the City Council in closed session on March 19. Following that meeting, staff will bring a draft recommendation on the recreational uses of these public access pathways to the Recreation and Parks Commission for a public discussion, anticipated at the April 11 meeting. Once the Recreation and Parks Commission approves a recommendation, it will be brought to a regular meeting of the City Council for further public review and discussion in May/June.”

More information and to read the feasibility study.