By Antioch Police Department
Let’s make a difference—together!
Join us for our Monthly Community Clean-Up on Saturday, August 2nd from 10 AM to 12 PM at Marchetti Park, 5298 Belle Drive!
Grab your friends and your good vibes—we’ll provide the supplies.
Let’s keep our city beautiful and show some love to the neighborhood!
Ahoy, Antioch!
Get ready to set sail at our Box Boat Derby on Saturday, June 28th! Grab your cardboard, duct tape and creativity because it’s time to build the ultimate boat and race it down the lap pool.
Whether you’re a DIY pro or just in it for the fun, this event is for everyone. So, gather your crew, get crafty, and let’s make a splash together!
All ages welcome.
AWARDS for the most creative, fastest, and best-dressed boats!
Check In Begins: 11:15am.
Race Start Time: 12:30pm
Location: Antioch Water Park – Lap Pool
We hope to see you for a day full of fun, laughter, and friendly competition!
More info can be found on our Events tab at antiochwaterpark.com.
All participants and spectators must have a valid general admission ticket for that day. Tickets are available by clicking here.
$8.3 million in grants; $2.6 million in district matching funds
By Dave Mason, Public Information Supervisor, Public Affairs, East Bay Regional Park District
The East Bay Regional Park District is set to spend $10.9 million over the next three years to reduce fire fuels at Anthony Chabot, Tilden, and Wildcat Canyon Regional Parks, Claremont Canyon Regional Preserve, and Carquinez Strait Regional Shoreline. The funding will help reduce wildfire risks by removing dead and dying trees and hazardous vegetation on over 600 acres. Dead trees burn hotter and faster and can cast embers long distances, igniting new fires.
These efforts are in addition to ongoing fuels reduction work districtwide, including large-scale projects at Anthony Chabot Regional Park (544 acres) and Tilden Regional Park (39 acres), a 16-person year-round fuels reduction crew, and annual goat, sheep, and cattle grazing. In 2024, the Park District’s fuels reduction crew removed hazardous fire fuels on 104 acres in 11 parks. Additionally, more than 86,800 acres of parkland are grazed annually by cattle, sheep, or goats.
“The grant funding enhances our ability to protect the public and safeguard our natural landscapes,” said Park District Interim Fire Chief Khari Helae. “Securing the funding is a testament to the Park District’s efforts—from planning to permitting—to manage the detailed grant application process and its proven ability to carry out large-scale fuels reduction projects in support of the community.”
The $10.9 million for fuels reduction projects includes $8.3 million in grants, with $6.1 million coming from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), $2.1 million from the California State Coastal Conservancy, and $100,000 from the U.S. Forest Service. FEMA funding was obtained in partnership with U.S. Sen. Alex Padilla, who secured $1.5 million in the 2023 budget, and U.S. Rep. Eric Swalwell, who secured $1.4 million in the 2024 budget.
An additional $2.6 million comes from required Park District matching funds, which include general funds and voter-approved local revenue measures like Measure FF. These local revenue measures enhance the Park District’s ability to qualify for and secure grant funding by providing required matching contributions.
“These projects are vital to reducing wildfire risks in the East Bay,” said Park District General Manager Sabrina Landreth. “We thank FEMA, Sen. Alex Padilla, Rep. Eric Swalwell, the California State Coastal Conservancy, the U.S. Forest Service, and Park District voters for their support and for prioritizing wildfire mitigation in the East Bay.”
For large scale vegetation management projects, the Park District utilizes a climate-friendly carbonizer to dispose of vegetation. The carbonizer burns organic matter at 1,300 degrees Fahrenheit with little oxygen, which produces very low emissions—especially compared to conventional disposal methods such as open pile burning or transporting debris long distances in diesel trucks. The resulting biochar is being used throughout the Park District to enhance soil health, improve water retention, and increase crop productivity, including at the District’s Ardenwood Historic Farm in Fremont.
The Park District Board of Directors will consider authorizing $1,883,261 in matching funds from Measure FF at their upcoming Board Meeting on Tuesday, May 20, 2025. Measure FF was passed in 2018 by voters in the communities of Alameda, Albany, Berkeley, El Cerrito, El Sobrante, Emeryville, Kensington, Oakland, Piedmont, Richmond, and San Pablo to provide funding to reduce fire risks, improve public access, and restore natural habitat. The Board of Directors previously authorized $500,016 in matching funds in March 2023.
The East Bay Regional Park District is the largest regional park system in the nation, comprising 73 parks, 55 miles of shoreline, and over 1,330 miles of trails for hiking, biking, horseback riding, and environmental education. The Park District receives an estimated 30 million visits annually throughout Alameda and Contra Costa counties in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Participate in the #KAB Photo Raffle April 22-26
Date: Saturday, April 26, 2025 – Volunteer lunch included
Time: 9:00am-1:00pm
Location: Antioch Water Park & Waldie Plaza
From Earth Day to Arbor Day, let’s work together to build a stronger, cleaner, more beautiful Antioch! Starting Earth Day, April 22nd join us as we begin our service to the community. Gather friends and family to brainstorm a beautification project for your home, neighborhood, classroom, or local business, and put it into action! Don’t forget to capture your efforts with a photo and send to the Antioch Recreation Department! On Saturday, April 26th, be part of the volunteers who will serve downtown near Waldie Plaza and at the Antioch Community Center before enjoying a volunteer lunch. For Arbor Day, on May 1st, join our Parks and Rec Department as we plant trees at a local park.
What is Earth Day?
First held globally on April 22, 1970, Earth Day promotes worldwide demonstrations of support for environmental protection. Attention is drawn to the achievements made by the environmental protection movement and awareness is brought to methods of protecting the Earth’s natural resources. Celebrated by billions around the world, Keep Antioch Beautiful is just one of the ways our community celebrates Earth Day.
What is Arbor Day?
First celebrated in the U.S. in 1872, Arbor Day encourages public attention to the importance of trees in our ecosystem. Planting, relocating, and even climbing trees are encouraged along with learning more about the myriad of ways trees function in our environment and help us all to exist.
This year’s community services:
| Planting Trees on Arbor Day | Click to Sign Up |
| Trash Clean Up Downtown (Nick Rodriguez Community Center) | Click to Sign Up |
| Planting Flowers at Prewett Community Park | Click to Sign Up |
*Please bring work gloves.
#KAB Photo Raffle
From Earth Day to Arbor Day (April 22nd – April 26) show us how you and your family #KeepAntiochBeautiful. Post a picture of you, your family, friends, or coworkers performing an act of beautification for the city with the hashtag #KeepAntiochBeautiful AND tag the Antioch Recreation Department (@antiochrec_ca) to be entered into our raffle. On Arbor Day, three lucky entries will be chosen to each win a prize dedicated to them and their efforts toward the beautification of our lovely city!
For more information visit Keep Antioch Beautiful – City of Antioch, California.
By East Bay Regional Park District Police Department
This week, EBRPD-PD Officers conducted a traffic stop after receiving a call for service of a vehicle that did not pay for entry at the kiosk of Contra Loma Regional Park, in Antioch. The vehicle also matched the description of a suspect vehicle that was doing donuts at Contra Loma the previous day. Officers discovered two juveniles in the car (which was also parked in violation of a no parking sign).
After searching the car, officers located a personally manufactured, un-serialized, short-barrel assault rifle. One of the juveniles was later booked at the Contra Costa Juvenile Detention Facility.
4/15/25 UPDATE: According to EBRPD PIO Dave Mason the suspect arrested is age 17 and he is from Antioch.
Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.
$4 million federal grant requires $1 million in City matching funds for the “one-of-a-kind facility”
By Allen D. Payton
During their meeting on Tuesday, April 8, 2025, the Antioch City Council approved the final design for the Bicycle Garden to be located at Prewett Family Park on a unanimous vote.
The cost of the project originally was estimated at $2.5 to $3.5 million when it was approved by the Council in April 2022 and was to be paid from the City’s General Fund. However, according to the City staff report, the new cost estimate is $5 million and, “In 2023, the Project was awarded the full requested amount of $4,000,000” from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Safe Streets for All grant program. The City must provide a match of $1 million which will be paid from Development Impact Fees. (See related articles, here and here)
Prewett Park was chosen by the city council as the preferred location.
The presentation was provided by Andrew Dillard, Senior Engineer with the Contra Costa Transportation Authority who will oversee the project.
Funds for the project include $274,000 for CCTA Project Management, $176,000 for Environmental Clearance, $550,000 for Design, $3,450,000 for Construction and an additional $550,000 for Construction Management, he shared.
“All parks were considered throughout the city. But because of its central access…it really made it an optimal spot for the location,” Dillard stated.
The project will include restrooms and drinking fountains, he shared.
“The schedule includes completion of the environmental clearance and final design this summer and construction later in fall and winter, and complete construction in Summer/Fall 2026. We have until April of 2029 to complete every aspect of the project, which we’re well ahead of,” Dillard concluded.
Public Comments
Only one member of the public spoke on the agenda item.
“These dollars could have gone to actual bicycle improvements on Lone Tree Way. I’m sad about this bicycle garden,” said Andrew Becker.
Council Questions and Discussion
District 3 Councilman Don Freitas said, “I’m quite shocked to see an entrance into this bicycle park across EBMUD utility lines. They never allow anyone to cross.”
“We’re working through the details with them,” Dillard responded.
“The only thing they’ve ever allowed is Sutter Delta, here, the parking lot,” Freitas added.
“How are we going to manage this? There could be people, like on Lone Tree Way, racing each other. How do we control things?”
Assistant City Attorney Kevin Kundinger said the city attorney’s office will determine any liability the City may face.
“It’s designed to be a passive park, like most of our parks, it will be open,” Acting Assistance City Manager and Parks & Recreation Director Brad Helfenberger said. “The facility is somewhat revolutionary. So, it’s new territory we’re charting.”
“I was here when we opened the skate park and it very much became a police problem with older people causing problems for younger people,” Freitas stated.
District 4 Councilwoman Monica Wilson asked about solar panels shown in the video but not on the map.
“That was discussed early on and that was just part of the video. It was decided not to pursue solar panels…because of the needs for electricity for the park,” Dillard said.
“Didn’t we take into consideration the disc golf course (which is currently located there)?” Wilson asked.
“Yes. We’ve had some initial discussion to move that to Harbor Manor Park,” Helfenberger responded. “We’ve had them along for the ride and they’ve been part of the discussion.”
“I like the park but I do have some concerns about the risk,” Wilson stated. “I’m looking forward to next steps and hearing more about it.”
Tamisha Torres-Walker said, “I protested the location because we have a lot of open space in District 1,” without offering any. “How many five- and six-year-olds can make it to that side of town?”
“So, it will not be gated or fenced off to the public?” the councilwoman asked.
“That is correct,” Helfenberger responded. “We have hours for other parks that this will follow.”
Bernal asked about the landscape plan and about “elements that are not easily broken and sturdy, and not easily vandalized.”
Dillard mentioned elements that will be “made out of wood…rugged” and landscaping that will be “low-maintenance…that can survive drought conditions. We’ve heard that loud and clear.”
Bernal asked about the color of the bike paths if it will be asphalt or yellow like in the video. He also asked if there will be walking paths, and shade structures since the “shade trees are 15 years away.”
Dillard said the bike paths will be asphalt, there will be separated, walking paths and shade structures.
Bernal then asked about annual maintenance costs, to which Helfenberger said it’s estimated at $120,000 per year.
The council then approved the conceptual design of the Bicycle Garden on a 5-0 vote.
See Project Staff Report to Council and Project Presentation to Council.
Will also consider spending $225K more for Amtrak Station Upgrades, purchasing 2 armored rescue police vehicles, support for County’s African American Holistic Wellness and Resource Hub to locate in Antioch
Will first hold Budget Study Session on Public Works, Parks & Rec Departments
By Allen D. Payton
During their meeting tomorrow night, Tuesday, April 8, 2025, the Antioch City Council will finalize the design of the Bicycle Garden at Prewett Family Park, discuss spending $225,000 more for the Amtrak Station Upgrades and purchasing two armored rescue police vehicles at a cost of up to $531,800. They will also consider supporting the County’s proposed African American Holistic Wellness and Resource Hub to be located in Antioch.
Before their regular meeting beginning at 7:00 p.m., the council will hold a Closed Session at 4:00 p.m. for another discussion on the Public Employee Performance Evaluation of City Manager Bessie Scott. That will be followed by a Budget Study Session on the Public Works and Parks and Recreation Departments at 5:00 p.m.
The Budget Session and regular meeting will be held in the Council Chambers at City Hall, 200 H Street, in historic, downtown Rivertown. It can be viewed via livestream on the City’s website or on Comcast local access cable Channel 24 of AT&T U-verse Channel 99.
See the complete meeting agenda packet.
March 1st Virtual Job Fair highlights opportunities
By Jen Vanya, Public Information Specialist | Public Affairs, East Bay Regional Park District
The East Bay Regional Park District is a major employer of students in Alameda and Contra Costa counties, staffing approximately 300 seasonal positions annually. There are many employment options available for the 2025 summer season at East Bay Regional Parks.
Virtual Youth Job Fair: Saturday, Mar. 1
The East Bay Regional Park District has a wide variety of opportunities for youth, young adults, and students. The Virtual Youth Job Fair is designed for applicants ages 15–24, although the minimum age requirement for most jobs is 16 years old. Resume and interview tips provided. Pre-registration highly recommended.
Virtual Youth Job Fair via Zoom
Saturday, Mar. 1, 10:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
More information and a Zoom registration link can be found at www.ebparks.org/jobs/youth.
Youth and Seasonal Jobs
The East Bay Regional Park District is now accepting applications for summer and seasonal jobs. Spend summer in the great outdoors, build leadership skills in a team environment, and create lasting memories while gaining valuable work experience in the East Bay community.
Positions include:
The East Bay Regional Park District is the largest regional park system in the nation, comprising 73 parks, 55 miles of shoreline, and over 1,330 miles of trails for hiking, biking, horseback riding, and environmental education. The Park District receives an estimated 30 million visits annually throughout Alameda and Contra Costa counties in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Park District investing $10.9 million to reduce fire fuels in the East Bay
Tuesday, May 20th, 2025Juveniles found with home-made assault rifle in Contra Loma Regional Park, one arrested
Friday, April 11th, 2025Antioch Council approves final design of $5 million Bicycle Garden
Wednesday, April 9th, 2025Antioch Council to finalize Bicycle Garden design Tuesday night
Monday, April 7th, 2025Now hiring! Youth and Seasonal East Bay Park District jobs available
Wednesday, February 19th, 2025
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