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{{Short description|Multi-use park}}
{{Other|Point Isabel}}

{{Infobox park {{Infobox park
|park=Point Isabel Regional Shoreline | name = Point Isabel Regional Shoreline
| photo =Pointislabelregionalshoreline2019.jpg
|image=Ptisabelmap.gif|thumb
| photo_width = 275
|image size=275px
|caption=A map of the park and surrounding area, the land across the channel is known as North Point Isabel | photo_caption = A map of the park and surrounding area, the land across the channel is known as North Point Isabel
|type=Regional (]) | type = Regional (])
|location=] | location = ], ]
| area = {{convert|50|acre|ha|abbr=on}}
|size=23 acres (9.3 hectares)
|opened=1975 | created = 1975
| visitation_num = 1,400,000 people annually
|annual visitors=500,000 dogs
|status=Open all year | status = Open all year
}} }}


'''Point Isabel Regional Shoreline''' in ], operated by ], is the largest off-leash ] in the United States.<ref name="largestoffleash">, by Glen Martin, San Francisco Chronicle, August 16, 2004, retrieved July 25, 2007</ref> Point Isabel is an award-winning park offering activities for humans as well as dogs. It also features a concession offering food for humans and grooming for pets. It has easy access for pedestrians, public transit, and private vehicles. A community organization, Point Isabel Dog Owners and Friends (PIDO), is dedicated to the maintenance and improvement of the park. '''Point Isabel Regional Shoreline''' in ], is operated by ], and is a multi-use park for joggers, windsurfers, kayakers, photographers, picnickers, and people walking dogs. It has access for pedestrians and via public transit, private vehicles, and bikes (although bike-riding within Point Isabel itself is not allowed). It also features a concession offering food for people and grooming for pets. A longtime community organization and nonprofit, Point Isabel Dog Owners and Friends (PIDO), is active in the maintenance and improvement of the park.

Point Isabel was closed from March 31, 2020 to June 1, 2020, as a precaution during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic. Dogs were required to be on-leash during the first week after the reopening but off-leash privileges were restored on June 8, 2020. As throughout East Bay Regional Park District, social distancing measures apply.


==History== ==History==
The 23-acre<ref name="isabelprofile">, East Bay Regional Parks District, retrieved July 25, 2007</ref><ref name="perfectpicnics">, '']'', by Karola Saekel, May 23, 2007, retrieved July 30, 2007</ref> park was acquired by the East Bay Regional Parks District in 1975 from the ] which operated a large bulk mail facility there. The USPS offered to lease the land free of charge to the EBRPD until 2025 as a form of mitigation for the construction of their facility adjacent to the then-future shoreline park. The lease came with the condition of free public access.<ref name="brochure">, Point Isbael Regional Shorleline Brochure, East Bay Regional Parks District, retrieved August 26, 2007</ref> This now {{convert|50|acre|m2|adj=on}} <ref name="isabelprofile">{{Cite web|title=Point Isabel Regional Shoreline |url=https://www.ebparks.org/parks/point-isabel|access-date=2023-02-18|website=East Bay Regional Park District}}</ref><ref name="perfectpicnics">{{Cite web|last=Saekel|first=Karola|date=2007-05-23|title=Perfect Picnics / Go dog, go: Bayside playground is a fetching spot for pups and their pals|url=https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Perfect-Picnics-Go-dog-go-Bayside-playground-2559123.php|access-date=2023-02-18|website=San Francisco Chronicle|language=en-US}}</ref> park was incorporated into the ] (EBRPD) in 1975. The ] operates a large bulk mail facility adjacent to what is now Point Isabel Regional Shoreline. As mitigation for the construction of this large facility on the shoreline, USPS offered to lease what is now Point Isabel Regional Shoreline free of charge to the EBRPD until 2025. The lease came with the condition of free public access.<ref name="brochure">, Point Isbael Regional Shoreline Brochure, East Bay Regional Parks District, retrieved August 26, 2007</ref>


Originally 23 acres, Point Isabel officially added the roughly 26 acres of North Point Isabel (sometimes called Battery Point) in 2002 when ] (then Eastshore State Park) was created. North Point Isabel is across the narrow Hoffman Channel from Point Isabel proper and accessed via a short footbridge or from the Bay Trail.
⚫ The park is currently undergoing about US $500,000 worth of capital improvements, including new ] and ], ] removal, trail repavement, picnic sites and café seating. This is being funded by a portion of US $225 million collected by ] (1998).<ref name="isabelprofile"/>


]
⚫ The park, which receives over 500,000 canine visitors per year, was named the number one dog park by ] (PETA) in 2006.<ref name="isabelprofile"/>


Both Point Isabel and North Point Isabel, like many parks along the East Bay shoreline, are landfill. For years North Point Isabel was a dumping ground for industrial waste—the "Battery Point" name referred to battery casings—and underwent an intensive cleanup and clay-capping operation in the mid-1980s. Two of the toxins of concern in the area were lead and zinc. The fenced-off area just north of the public restrooms at the Rydin Road end of the park is dirt that was dug more recently when the restrooms were installed. The dirt pile tested positive for high levels of contaminants and was fenced off, planted, and is permanently off-limits. Other small areas of North Point Isabel have been fenced off either because they tested positive for lead or zinc or to prevent further erosion of the clay cap and edges of the landfill.
It is named for the natural promontory of ], which was itself named for landowner ]'s daughter Isabel.<ref name="echistory">, Point Isabel, retrieved July 31, 2007</ref>

The park has seen many improvements over the years, including the building of permanent buildings for the Mudpuppy's Tub & Scrub dog wash and adjacent Sit & Stay Café; permanent bathrooms on both ends of the park (Isabel Street and Rydin Road); trail repaving on the Point Isabel side; and parking lot repaving and restriping. The bridge across the Hoffman Channel was reinforced in 2019 to ensure it could hold emergency vehicles on the adjacent Bay Trail (along the Hoffman Marsh). The informal launching area for nonmotorized watercraft (primarily windsurfers and kayaks) was significantly improved around 2018, including shoring up the edges of the landfill, installing a pea gravel area for windsurfers to stage their equipment, a broad, concrete ramp to the water's edge, and paved sidewalks out to the launch area.

Park usage has increased exponentially from an estimated 500,000 human visitors in 2000 to some 1,500,000 by the early 2020s, according to EBRPD estimates. It is used heavily by people walking dogs but also by walkers, joggers, windsurfers, kayakers, photographers, birdwatchers, and picnickers.
⚫ A few years ago it underwent some US $500,000 worth of capital improvements, including new irrigation systems and turf, foxtail removal, trail repavement, picnic sites and café seating. That was funded by a portion of US $225 million collected by Measure AA (1998)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ebparks.org/parks/eastshore/|title = EBRPD - McLaughlin Eastshore}}</ref>

⚫ Point Isabel regularly makes the list of the top best places in the U.S. to walk dogs off-leash. It was named the number one dog park by ] (PETA) in 2006.<ref name="isabelprofile" />

It is named for the natural promontory of ], which was itself named for landowner Don ]'s daughter Isabel.<ref name="echistory">{{usurped|1=}}, Point Isabel, retrieved July 31, 2007</ref> The Castros operated Rancho San Pablo, with an adobe home that stood where El Cerrito Plaza is today. From their dock at Point Isabel they ferried cattle, hides, and beef to Mission Dolores and then to booming San Francisco during and after the Gold Rush. For many years a pottery company, Tepco, operated near where the water treatment plant is today. Shards of broken pottery are still frequently found along the western shoreline.

The remains of ] washed up at Point Isabel in 2003,<ref>{{Cite web|last=Finz|first=Stacy|date=2004-07-22|title=The Peterson Trial / Defense intensifies its attack on police / Modesto officers testify evidence was mislabeled |url=https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/the-peterson-trial-defense-intensifies-its-2706229.php|access-date=2023-02-18|website=San Francisco Chronicle|language=en-US}}</ref> and those of her unborn son, Connor, were found a short distance north along the shoreline.


==Overview== ==Overview==


] at the point.]]
The park is located along the eastern shore of the ] in the East Bay region of the Bay Area<ref name="isabelprofile"/> and is administered by the ]. The park consists of the northwestern shoreline of the promontory of Point Isabel from ] along ] to Richmond Inner Harbor.<ref name="mapside">, East Bay Regional Parks District, retrieved August 26, 2007</ref> The northern shore of the park against Hoffman Channel was formerly a sandy beach and has been modified from its original state by leveling and in-filling of the surrounding ], tidal flats and other ].<ref name="echistory"/>
⚫ The rest of the area consists of a water treatment facility, radio towers, a US Postal Service facility, a ] store, and office buildings. The parkland has an elevation of 16-25 feet (5-8 meters).


The Hoffman Channel is the outlet of ] creek from its mouth at the edge of its delta, Hoffman Marsh<ref name="musbax">, Museum of California, retrieved September 17, 2007</ref> The shoreline is lined with broken concrete blocks and other ].<ref name="mapside"/> The park is located along the eastern shore of the ] in the East Bay region of the Bay Area<ref name="isabelprofile"/> and is administered by ]. The park consists of two halves of roughly equal size—Point Isabel and North Point Isabel—separated by the narrow Hoffman Channel. Hoffman Channel is the outlet of ] creek from its mouth at the edge of its delta, Hoffman Marsh<ref name="musbax">, Museum of California, retrieved September 17, 2007</ref> The shoreline of the entire park is lined with boulders, broken concrete blocks, and other ].<ref name="mapside">, East Bay Regional Parks District, retrieved August 26, 2007</ref>


The northern shore of the park against Hoffman Channel was formerly a sandy beach and has been modified from its original state by leveling and in-filling of the surrounding ], tidal flats and other ].<ref name="echistory" />
⚫ The park is open between 5 am and 10 pm ]; admission and parking are free, as stipulated by the lease agreement.<ref name="isabelprofile"/><ref>, PIDO, July 17, 2007, retrieved July 31, 2007</ref> The park is fully wheelchair accessible.<ref name="isabelprofile"/>
⚫ The rest of the peninsula consists of the Bay Trail, a water treatment facility, radio towers, a US Postal Service facility, a ] store, and office buildings. The parkland has an elevation of 16–25 feet (5–8 meters).


⚫ The park is open between 5 am and 10 pm ]; admission and parking are free, as stipulated by the lease agreement.<ref name="isabelprofile"/><ref> {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020607144524/http://www.pido.org/pages/news.htm |date=2002-06-07 }}, PIDO, July 17, 2007, retrieved July 31, 2007</ref> The park is wheelchair accessible although the path around the perimeter of North Point Isabel is rough.<ref name="isabelprofile"/>] and ] in the background.]]
] (ESP), a park incorporating wetlands along the shore of San Francisco Bay has already incorporated the Albany Mudflats to the south and hopes to incorporate Hoffman Marsh.<ref name="bayhiker"/> North Point Isabel Park, situated just north of the Point Isabel Shoreline, is already part of ESP.
]


Point Isabel features two businesses aimed at visitors: Mudpuppy's Tub & Scrub, which is a dog grooming retail store and outlet, and the Sit & Stay Café, which offers drinks and sandwiches.<ref name="largestoffleash"/> Point Isabel features two businesses aimed at visitors: Mudpuppy's Tub and Scrub, which is a dog grooming retail store and outlet, and the Sit & Stay Café, which offers hot and cold drinks and light food.<ref name="largestoffleash">{{Cite web|last=Martin|first=Glen|date=2004-08-16|title=East Bay Parks at 70 / Point Isabel Shoreline the largest off-leash dog park in the nation|url=https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/east-bay-parks-at-70-point-isabel-shoreline-the-2701020.php|access-date=2023-02-18|website=San Francisco Chronicle|language=en-US}}</ref>


The park also offers striking panoramic views of both Marin County ], ] and the ].<ref name="perfectpicnics"/> There are 3.2 miles (5.1 km) of flat trails which are generally wheelchair accessible and stroller friendly.<ref name="bayhiker"/> Part of trails in the park belongs to the ].<ref name="mapside"/> The park offers striking panoramic views of Marin County ], ] and the ].<ref name="perfectpicnics"/> There are 3.2 miles (5.1&nbsp;km) of flat trails which are generally wheelchair accessible and stroller friendly.<ref name="bayhiker"/> The ]<ref name="mapside"/> wraps around Point Isabel Regional Shoreline.


The park supplies biodegradable bags called "mutt mitts" which are worn around the hand to retrieve animal waste. These bags cost the EBRPD about US$34,000 annually.<ref name="largestoffleash"/><ref name="pidoabout"/> The park supplies bags for picking up animal waste. These bags cost the EBRPD about US$34,000 annually, to which the Point Isabel Dog Owners group contributes.<ref name="largestoffleash"/><ref name="pidoabout"/>


===Park rules=== ===Park rules===
Leashes are optional for non-aggressive dogs in Point Isabel with certain restrictions. Dogowners must have a leash on hand, clean up their pet's waste and fill up holes dug by their pet. Dogs who become aggressive must be leashed immediately. Dogs are allowed to swim in Hoffman Channel, but not in Hoffman Marsh. Dogowners also must prevent their pets from disturbing feeding birds at low tide.<ref name="pidoabout">, PIDO, retrieved August 1, 2007</ref> The park is open from 5:00a.m. to 10:00p.m. every day unless otherwise posted. Bicycling is not allowed inside Point Isabel Regional Shoreline, but bikes can loop around the fenced park on a spur of the Bay Trail. Leashes are optional for dogs throughout the park but dogs must be leashed in the parking lots Dog walkers are limited to three dogs each (although EBRPD issues permits for individuals and professionals to walk up to six dogs apiece). Visitors with dogs must carry a leash for each dog; must clean up their pets' waste; must prevent their dogs from digging; and must immediately fill any holes dug by their pets. Dogs who become aggressive must be leashed immediately. Dogs are allowed to swim in the Bay, in Hoffman Channel at high tide, and in Hoffman Bay (the northern edge of North Point Isabel) at high tide. Dogs may not harass birds at any time; are never allowed in Hoffman Marsh (on the other side of the Bay Trail from Point Isabel); and must not disturb birds feeding in the Hoffman Bay mudflats or Hoffman Channel at low tide.<ref name="pidoabout"> {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020607143435/http://www.pido.org/pages/about.htm |date=2002-06-07 }}, PIDO, retrieved August 1, 2007</ref>


==Transportation== ==Transportation==


The park was served by ]'s 25 bus line, which linked it to the ] station and ].<ref>{{Cite web|title=This line is no longer in service
The park is served by ]'s 52L bus line, which links to the ] station and ]<ref>, complete schedule, AC Transit, June 24, 2007, retrieved July 22, 2007</ref>. The park is also accessible by car via ] and ] from the Central Avenue exit. There is ample parking in two parking lots and additional street parking as well.<ref name="bayhiker">, Bayhiker, retrieved August 1, 2007</ref>
| work= Alameda-Contra Costa Transit District |url=https://www.actransit.org/bus-lines-schedules/25|access-date=2023-02-18}}</ref> The park is also accessible by car via ] and ] from the Central Avenue exit. There is parking in two parking lots and additional street parking.<ref name="bayhiker">{{Cite web|url=https://bahiker.com/eastbayhikes/ptisabel.html
| title = Point Isabel Regional Shoreline, East Bay Regional Park District, Contra Costa County
| date= 2001
|access-date=2023-02-18|website=bahiker.com}}</ref> Car break-ins have been an issue at both parking lots. There are bike racks on the Isabel Street end of the park.


The park connects to the San Francisco ] leading into the ] neighborhood<ref>, Point Isabel Regional Park, retrieved July 31, 2007</ref> further into Richmond northwestwards and through ] to ] southwards.<ref>, San Francisco Chronicle, retrieved July 31, 2007</ref> The park connects to the San Francisco Bay Trail leading into the ] neighborhood<ref>{{Cite web|title=Point Isabel Regional Park|url=http://home.pacbell.net/leewaysf/isabel.html|access-date=2023-02-18|archive-date=2001-02-18|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010218082513/http://home.pacbell.net/leewaysf/isabel.html|url-status=unfit}}</ref> northwestwards into Richmond and southwards toward Albany and through ] to ].<ref> {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070807200220/http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/object/article?f=%2Fc%2Fa%2F2007%2F05%2F23%2FFDG1QPU1HM1.DTL&o=0 |date=2007-08-07 }}, San Francisco Chronicle, retrieved July 31, 2007</ref>


==PIDO== ==PIDO==


Point Isabel Dog Owners and Friends (PIDO) is a community organization that works to ] for park maintenance and preservation.<ref name="largestoffleash"/><ref name="pidoabout"/> Point Isabel has also been noted in the media for its safety, lack of vandalism, and cleanliness.<ref name="largestoffleash"/> Point Isabel Dog Owners and Friends (PIDO) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with approximately 7,500 members as of 2024. PIDO was founded in 1985 when Point Isabel was made on-leash-only and by 1987 successfully negotiated off-leash, multi-use status for Point Isabel again. PIDO has worked for almost 40 years to ] for poop bags and park maintenance, educate park users, and keep the park clean, safe, and off-leash.<ref name="largestoffleash"/><ref name="pidoabout"/> (Point Isabel has been noted in the media for its safety, lack of vandalism, and cleanliness.<ref name="largestoffleash"/>)


When off-leash access to North Point Isabel was in jeopardy during the creation of what is now McLaughlin Eastshore State Park in 2002, PIDO collected 20,000 signatures to preserve multi-use recreation. When the City of Richmond planned to rezone the Point Isabel promontory some years later to allow a Kohl's department store on Rydin Road and fast-food restaurants, PIDO joined forces with neighborhood groups and environmentalists to preserve and protect the area.
The organization assists in funding mutt mitts and promotes their use to visitors. Self-policing by parkgoers and PIDO members has been credited with making the park dog waste-free.<ref name="largestoffleash"/>


PIDO assists the EBRPD in funding poop bags and promotes their use to visitors. (Self-policing by park-goers and PIDO members has been credited with making the park dog waste-free.<ref name="largestoffleash" />) PIDO maintains two bulletin boards at Point Isabel; two others are dedicated to the use of the EBRPD. PIDO sponsors annual Canine Good Citizen testing and accreditation for dogs; holds regular park cleaning and weed-pulling events; small Off-leash Skills 101 sessions with a professional trainer (free but spaces are limited); and a popular dog costume contest and parade called "Barktoberfest" around Halloween.<ref> {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070815093851/http://www.pido.org/pages/calendar.htm |date=2007-08-15 }}, PIDO, retrieved August 1, 2007</ref> PIDO helps educate park-goers via a periodic e-newsletter; its bulletin boards; and ''The PIDO Pointer'', a newsletter published three times a year and mailed to members as well as being available free on the bulletin boards at Point Isabel.
PIDO sponsors "good citizenship" testing and accreditation for dogs as well as fundraising events, volunteer park cleaning, and a dog festival entitled "Barktoberfest".<ref>, PIDO, retrieved August 1, 2007</ref>


==See also== ==See also==
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{{reflist}} {{reflist}}


==External links== == External links ==

* at the East Bay Regional Parks District website * at the East Bay Regional Parks District website
* *
{{Geolinks-US-streetscale|37.8990|-122.3243}} {{coord|37.8990|-122.3243|region:US_type:landmark|display=title}}
* *
* at bay Hiker, report, images * at bay Hiker, report, images
* , photos * , photos
* Point Isabel Dog Owners and Friends * Point Isabel Dog Owners and Friends
* commentary at Yelp.com * commentary at Yelp.com


{{East Bay Regional Parks}}
{{Richmond, California}} {{Richmond, California}}
{{San Francisco Bay watershed}}


] ]
⚫ ]
] ]
]
⚫ ]
]
]

Latest revision as of 05:23, 21 December 2024

Multi-use park
Point Isabel Regional Shoreline
A map of the park and surrounding area, the land across the channel is known as North Point Isabel
TypeRegional (East Bay Regional Park District)
LocationRichmond, California
Area50 acres (20 ha)
Created1975
Visitors1,400,000 people annually
StatusOpen all year

Point Isabel Regional Shoreline in Richmond, California, is operated by East Bay Regional Park District, and is a multi-use park for joggers, windsurfers, kayakers, photographers, picnickers, and people walking dogs. It has access for pedestrians and via public transit, private vehicles, and bikes (although bike-riding within Point Isabel itself is not allowed). It also features a concession offering food for people and grooming for pets. A longtime community organization and nonprofit, Point Isabel Dog Owners and Friends (PIDO), is active in the maintenance and improvement of the park.

Point Isabel was closed from March 31, 2020 to June 1, 2020, as a precaution during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic. Dogs were required to be on-leash during the first week after the reopening but off-leash privileges were restored on June 8, 2020. As throughout East Bay Regional Park District, social distancing measures apply.

History

This now 50-acre (200,000 m) park was incorporated into the East Bay Regional Park District (EBRPD) in 1975. The United States Postal Service operates a large bulk mail facility adjacent to what is now Point Isabel Regional Shoreline. As mitigation for the construction of this large facility on the shoreline, USPS offered to lease what is now Point Isabel Regional Shoreline free of charge to the EBRPD until 2025. The lease came with the condition of free public access.

Originally 23 acres, Point Isabel officially added the roughly 26 acres of North Point Isabel (sometimes called Battery Point) in 2002 when McLaughlin Eastshore State Park (then Eastshore State Park) was created. North Point Isabel is across the narrow Hoffman Channel from Point Isabel proper and accessed via a short footbridge or from the Bay Trail.

The parks shoreline in 2019

Both Point Isabel and North Point Isabel, like many parks along the East Bay shoreline, are landfill. For years North Point Isabel was a dumping ground for industrial waste—the "Battery Point" name referred to battery casings—and underwent an intensive cleanup and clay-capping operation in the mid-1980s. Two of the toxins of concern in the area were lead and zinc. The fenced-off area just north of the public restrooms at the Rydin Road end of the park is dirt that was dug more recently when the restrooms were installed. The dirt pile tested positive for high levels of contaminants and was fenced off, planted, and is permanently off-limits. Other small areas of North Point Isabel have been fenced off either because they tested positive for lead or zinc or to prevent further erosion of the clay cap and edges of the landfill.

The park has seen many improvements over the years, including the building of permanent buildings for the Mudpuppy's Tub & Scrub dog wash and adjacent Sit & Stay Café; permanent bathrooms on both ends of the park (Isabel Street and Rydin Road); trail repaving on the Point Isabel side; and parking lot repaving and restriping. The bridge across the Hoffman Channel was reinforced in 2019 to ensure it could hold emergency vehicles on the adjacent Bay Trail (along the Hoffman Marsh). The informal launching area for nonmotorized watercraft (primarily windsurfers and kayaks) was significantly improved around 2018, including shoring up the edges of the landfill, installing a pea gravel area for windsurfers to stage their equipment, a broad, concrete ramp to the water's edge, and paved sidewalks out to the launch area.

Park usage has increased exponentially from an estimated 500,000 human visitors in 2000 to some 1,500,000 by the early 2020s, according to EBRPD estimates. It is used heavily by people walking dogs but also by walkers, joggers, windsurfers, kayakers, photographers, birdwatchers, and picnickers. A few years ago it underwent some US $500,000 worth of capital improvements, including new irrigation systems and turf, foxtail removal, trail repavement, picnic sites and café seating. That was funded by a portion of US $225 million collected by Measure AA (1998)

Point Isabel regularly makes the list of the top best places in the U.S. to walk dogs off-leash. It was named the number one dog park by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) in 2006.

It is named for the natural promontory of Point Isabel, which was itself named for landowner Don Víctor Castro's daughter Isabel. The Castros operated Rancho San Pablo, with an adobe home that stood where El Cerrito Plaza is today. From their dock at Point Isabel they ferried cattle, hides, and beef to Mission Dolores and then to booming San Francisco during and after the Gold Rush. For many years a pottery company, Tepco, operated near where the water treatment plant is today. Shards of broken pottery are still frequently found along the western shoreline.

The remains of Laci Peterson washed up at Point Isabel in 2003, and those of her unborn son, Connor, were found a short distance north along the shoreline.

Overview

A Harris's sparrow at the point.

The park is located along the eastern shore of the San Francisco Bay in the East Bay region of the Bay Area and is administered by East Bay Regional Park District. The park consists of two halves of roughly equal size—Point Isabel and North Point Isabel—separated by the narrow Hoffman Channel. Hoffman Channel is the outlet of Fluvius Innominatus creek from its mouth at the edge of its delta, Hoffman Marsh The shoreline of the entire park is lined with boulders, broken concrete blocks, and other riprap.

The northern shore of the park against Hoffman Channel was formerly a sandy beach and has been modified from its original state by leveling and in-filling of the surrounding mudflats, tidal flats and other wetlands. The rest of the peninsula consists of the Bay Trail, a water treatment facility, radio towers, a US Postal Service facility, a Costco store, and office buildings. The parkland has an elevation of 16–25 feet (5–8 meters).

The park is open between 5 am and 10 pm PST; admission and parking are free, as stipulated by the lease agreement. The park is wheelchair accessible although the path around the perimeter of North Point Isabel is rough.

The park on a November day with Angel Island and Marin County in the background.

Point Isabel features two businesses aimed at visitors: Mudpuppy's Tub and Scrub, which is a dog grooming retail store and outlet, and the Sit & Stay Café, which offers hot and cold drinks and light food.

The park offers striking panoramic views of Marin County mountains, San Francisco and the Golden Gate Bridge. There are 3.2 miles (5.1 km) of flat trails which are generally wheelchair accessible and stroller friendly. The San Francisco Bay Trail wraps around Point Isabel Regional Shoreline.

The park supplies bags for picking up animal waste. These bags cost the EBRPD about US$34,000 annually, to which the Point Isabel Dog Owners group contributes.

Park rules

The park is open from 5:00a.m. to 10:00p.m. every day unless otherwise posted. Bicycling is not allowed inside Point Isabel Regional Shoreline, but bikes can loop around the fenced park on a spur of the Bay Trail. Leashes are optional for dogs throughout the park but dogs must be leashed in the parking lots Dog walkers are limited to three dogs each (although EBRPD issues permits for individuals and professionals to walk up to six dogs apiece). Visitors with dogs must carry a leash for each dog; must clean up their pets' waste; must prevent their dogs from digging; and must immediately fill any holes dug by their pets. Dogs who become aggressive must be leashed immediately. Dogs are allowed to swim in the Bay, in Hoffman Channel at high tide, and in Hoffman Bay (the northern edge of North Point Isabel) at high tide. Dogs may not harass birds at any time; are never allowed in Hoffman Marsh (on the other side of the Bay Trail from Point Isabel); and must not disturb birds feeding in the Hoffman Bay mudflats or Hoffman Channel at low tide.

Transportation

The park was served by AC Transit's 25 bus line, which linked it to the El Cerrito Plaza BART station and Downtown Berkeley. The park is also accessible by car via I-80 and I-580 from the Central Avenue exit. There is parking in two parking lots and additional street parking. Car break-ins have been an issue at both parking lots. There are bike racks on the Isabel Street end of the park.

The park connects to the San Francisco Bay Trail leading into the Marina Bay neighborhood northwestwards into Richmond and southwards toward Albany and through Berkeley to Emeryville.

PIDO

Point Isabel Dog Owners and Friends (PIDO) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with approximately 7,500 members as of 2024. PIDO was founded in 1985 when Point Isabel was made on-leash-only and by 1987 successfully negotiated off-leash, multi-use status for Point Isabel again. PIDO has worked for almost 40 years to raise funds for poop bags and park maintenance, educate park users, and keep the park clean, safe, and off-leash. (Point Isabel has been noted in the media for its safety, lack of vandalism, and cleanliness.)

When off-leash access to North Point Isabel was in jeopardy during the creation of what is now McLaughlin Eastshore State Park in 2002, PIDO collected 20,000 signatures to preserve multi-use recreation. When the City of Richmond planned to rezone the Point Isabel promontory some years later to allow a Kohl's department store on Rydin Road and fast-food restaurants, PIDO joined forces with neighborhood groups and environmentalists to preserve and protect the area.

PIDO assists the EBRPD in funding poop bags and promotes their use to visitors. (Self-policing by park-goers and PIDO members has been credited with making the park dog waste-free.) PIDO maintains two bulletin boards at Point Isabel; two others are dedicated to the use of the EBRPD. PIDO sponsors annual Canine Good Citizen testing and accreditation for dogs; holds regular park cleaning and weed-pulling events; small Off-leash Skills 101 sessions with a professional trainer (free but spaces are limited); and a popular dog costume contest and parade called "Barktoberfest" around Halloween. PIDO helps educate park-goers via a periodic e-newsletter; its bulletin boards; and The PIDO Pointer, a newsletter published three times a year and mailed to members as well as being available free on the bulletin boards at Point Isabel.

See also

Notes

  1. ^ "Point Isabel Regional Shoreline". East Bay Regional Park District. Retrieved 2023-02-18.
  2. ^ Saekel, Karola (2007-05-23). "Perfect Picnics / Go dog, go: Bayside playground is a fetching spot for pups and their pals". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved 2023-02-18.
  3. Point Isabel text side, Point Isbael Regional Shoreline Brochure, East Bay Regional Parks District, retrieved August 26, 2007
  4. "EBRPD - McLaughlin Eastshore".
  5. ^ El Cerrito Historical Society, Point Isabel, retrieved July 31, 2007
  6. Finz, Stacy (2004-07-22). "The Peterson Trial / Defense intensifies its attack on police / Modesto officers testify evidence was mislabeled". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved 2023-02-18.
  7. Baxter Creek & Fluvius Innominatus Topo, 1995, Museum of California, retrieved September 17, 2007
  8. ^ Point Isabel map side, East Bay Regional Parks District, retrieved August 26, 2007
  9. News and Announcements Archived 2002-06-07 at the Wayback Machine, PIDO, July 17, 2007, retrieved July 31, 2007
  10. ^ Martin, Glen (2004-08-16). "East Bay Parks at 70 / Point Isabel Shoreline the largest off-leash dog park in the nation". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved 2023-02-18.
  11. ^ "Point Isabel Regional Shoreline, East Bay Regional Park District, Contra Costa County". bahiker.com. 2001. Retrieved 2023-02-18.
  12. ^ About Point Isabel Archived 2002-06-07 at the Wayback Machine, PIDO, retrieved August 1, 2007
  13. "This line is no longer in service". Alameda-Contra Costa Transit District. Retrieved 2023-02-18.
  14. "Point Isabel Regional Park". Archived from the original on 2001-02-18. Retrieved 2023-02-18.
  15. fd_pointisabelshorelinemap.jpg/Point Isabel Regional Shoreline map Archived 2007-08-07 at the Wayback Machine, San Francisco Chronicle, retrieved July 31, 2007
  16. Calendar Archived 2007-08-15 at the Wayback Machine, PIDO, retrieved August 1, 2007

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