The Regional Parks Foundation supports the East Bay Regional Park District through fundraising to provide universal access, environmental stewardship, educational and recreational programs and the acquisition of parklands. 

At the Regional Parks Foundation, we believe connections with the natural world are critical for leading a healthy, balanced life. Every day, we provide resources to ensure all who live in the East Bay have equal access to the East Bay Regional Park District’s parks, trails, programs and services. Together, we keep our communities healthy and strong through the power of nature and inspire the next generation of environmental stewards to value and protect the abundance of natural and cultural resources that surround us.

Dear Friends of the Regional Parks,

Welcome to the 2022 Annual Report of the Regional Parks Foundation, where we proudly present a year of remarkable achievements, resilience, and renewal. Established in 1969, the Regional Parks Foundation is a non-profit organization with a warm and welcoming mission: to support the East Bay Regional Park District. Our passion lies in ensuring that everyone, from all walks of life, can connect with the wonders of nature. We strongly believe in the transformative power of nature and its ability to enrich our lives.  

Our 2022 highlights include: 

• 10,200: Youth and community members served through Foundation program support 
• $1.14 Million: Funding to the East Bay Regional Parks District in 2022
• 12,586: Number of Foundation members, a record number 

Despite unprecedented challenges, we adapted to connect people with nature, foster conservation, and promote recreation and education. Our daily efforts revolve around making sure that people, especially those in underserved communities, have open and inviting opportunities to enjoy the East Bay Regional Park District's parks, trails, programs, and services.

By doing this, we see lives positively transformed and inspire the next generation of environmental stewards, nurturing their appreciation for and protection of our open spaces and environment. 

The report highlights our commitment to universal access, environmental sustainability, and educational and recreational initiatives. Join us on this journey toward a resilient, interconnected future for our communities and regional parklands. 

The Foundation invests in programs that build confidence, resilience, and imagination in our youth. We raise the next generation of environmental stewards by providing critical science education and hands-on outdoor skills.

Through youth programs like Explore Your Watershed, Teen Eco Action Week, and summer day camps, local students learn key environmental science concepts and experience nature in their own backyard.

Youth participants, many of whom have never been to a Regional Park before, are able to work with District naturalists and take on challenges they may have never done before, such as boating, hiking and biking.

Each year, we support efforts of the Park District to preserve open spaces and the plants and wildlife that inhabit them. As the changing climate brings new challenges to our ecosystems, the Foundation is committed to funding efforts to keep habitats and species thriving.

Projects supported in 2022 include a Golden Eagle study and research project, Grassland Reptiles Project, and the Shoreline Sanctuary project at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Shoreline Park, a multi-year project helps rebuild the habitat into a productive feeding and resting place for thousands of migratory birds traveling the Pacific Flyway. 

In keeping with our mission to provide safe access to Regional Parks, the Foundation funds programs and safety equipment to protect park guests.

From water safety programming and trail safety equipment, to rescue equipment for the District’s emergency response efforts, we ensure that park guests and staff have the skills, tools, and confidence to safely navigate our parks and recreational areas.

Show your love for the parks through one of the many community engagement opportunities the Foundation offers. Partner with us to keep parks accessible for all and to protect wildlife and open space for generations to come. We can’t do it without you!

Donors & Partners

Support for the Regional Parks comes in many forms. In 2022, we celebrated many milestones, made possible in part by Foundation funding, including the new Tilden Botanic Crevice Garden, the Tyler Ranch Staging Area Opening, the Big Break Visitor Center 10th Anniversary, the Sunol Visitor Center Ribbon Cutting, and the Shadow Cliffs Pavilion Ribbon Cutting.

Membership

There are countless reasons to join the Regional Parks Foundation. From hiking, birding and biking, to swimming, fishing and boating, to picnicking and celebrating special occasions, the parks have something for everyone to enjoy. When you become a member, you are not just signing up for fantastic benefits that help you experience all that the parks have to offer, you are partnering with the Foundation by providing financial support for the work we do. Your membership is an investment in our community.

Legacy

The Regional Parks Foundation offers a robust estate planning program for members of the community interested in leaving a bequest or a gift to the causes that matter to them. We host regular estate planning seminars and our Planned Giving Committee, comprised of professionals in the fields of estate planning, tax planning and wealth management, offers resources for donors to make informed decisions.