It’s better to be ticked off than ticked on

By East Bay Regional Park District

Whether you’re hiking in East Bay Regional Parks, venturing into nearby open spaces, or simply relaxing in your own yard, it’s important to be wary of ticks, which are often present in tall grass, brush, and wooded areas. Visitors are encouraged to keep tick safety precautions in mind when visiting East Bay Regional Parks throughout the spring, summer, and fall seasons.

Ticks carry germs that can cause a number of diseases, including Lyme disease. Lyme disease is an infectious disease transmitted by the bite of a tick. It may be treated and cured with early diagnosis, but if not properly treated, it may persist in the body for years. Visit www.bayarealyme.org for more information.

What Does a Tick Look Like? In California, the western black-legged tick is the major carrier of Lyme disease. The adult female is reddish brown with black legs, about 1/8 inch long. Males are smaller and entirely brownish black. Both are teardrop shaped. Most ticks can’t fly or jump. They wait on the tips of grasses and in shrubs along well-used paths. With their front legs outstretched, they easily climb aboard unsuspecting hosts when they brush by.

Tick Safety Tips

1. Wear long pants, long sleeves, and closed-toe shoes.
2. Tuck shirt into pants, and pants into socks.
3. Use insect repellent on shoes, socks, and pants.
4. Check yourself, your children, and your pets for ticks thoroughly and frequently.
5. Keep children and pets nearby. For maximum safety, consider keeping your dog on a leash.
6. Stay on trails. Avoid brush and grassy areas.

What To Do If Bitten By A Tick

1. Pull the tick gently from the skin using a tissue or tweezers (not with bare hands).
2. Scrape to remove any mouthparts left behind. An item such as a credit card can be used.
3. Wash hands and the tick bite with soap and water; apply antiseptic to the bite. Prompt removal of ticks may prevent disease transmission.
4. See a physician immediately if you think you have found a tick attached to your skin and you have any of the above symptoms. Early symptoms may include a spreading rash accompanied by fever, aches, and/or fatigue.

Download the Park District’s Living with Ticks brochure. Additional information is available at ebparks.org/safety/wildlife-encounters.

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.

Get ready to roll! You’re invited to Teen Skate Night at Paradise Skate in Antioch. This event is open to ages 12-18 and includes free skate rentals, food, and admission. Rest assured, adult supervision will be provided throughout the event. We look forward to seeing you there!

Please be advised: For all youth under the age of 18, a parent/guardian signature is required for sign-out at the conclusion of the event. Please come to the front entrance to sign out. Should you have any inquiries or concerns, please contact youth@antiochca.gov. 

For more information visit paradiseskate.com or www.antiochca.gov/pscr/youth-services/council-of-teens.

Closure Friday, April 5; hours of access to boat launch will not change

From City of Antioch

Attention Residents

IMPORTANT NOTICE: Boat Launch Parking Lot Closure

Date: Friday, April 5 Time: 7:00 AM – 3:00 PM

Please be advised that the Antioch Marina boat launch parking lot at the foot of L Street will be CLOSED this Friday!

Our contractors will be hard at work installing a brand-new automatic gate. As part of this process, they will be cutting into the driveway leading into the parking lot.

For safety reasons, access to the parking lot will be restricted during this time. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause and appreciate your cooperation.

Plan ahead and make alternate arrangements if you were planning to use the boat launch during these hours.

Thank you for your understanding and patience as we work to improve our facilities for everyone’s enjoyment!

UPDATE: According to Antioch Recreation Department Director and Acting Assistant City Manager Brad Helfenberger, “With the installation of the new gate, the level of access to the boat launch parking lot will not change. Currently, our landscaping contractor manually opens and closes the gate each day. With the new automatic gate, we will be able to program the opening and closing times depending on the season. The current access hours are 6am-9pm.”

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.

For more information about the Antioch Rotary Club visit www.facebook.com/antiochrotaryclub.

Transportation, city officials were joined by dozens of cyclists and pedestrians to cut the ribbon, make the inaugural walk over new $13 million bridge 

BRENTWOOD, CA – Almost two years to the day of the groundbreaking, as of today, Wednesday, March 20, 2024, the Mokelumne Trail Bicycle and Pedestrian Overcrossing in Brentwood is officially open to the public.

Officials of the Contra Costa Transportation Authority (CCTA), City of Brentwood, State Route 4 Bypass Authority, Contra Costa County and Metropolitan Transportation Commission cut the ribbon to ceremonially open the recently completed bridge across Highway 4 between Lone Tree Way and Sand Creek Road.

They were joined by dozens of eagerly awaiting bicyclists and pedestrians to make the inaugural bike and walk on the overcrossing. The bridge now provides safe access to bicyclists and pedestrians for commuting and recreational travel and as part of the Mokelumne Coast to Crest Trail which includes the Delta de Anza Regional Trail that runs through Antioch and Oakley.

The 850-foot bridge structure includes a wider trail-width of 16 feet to accommodate bicyclists and pedestrians using the trail or accessing a potential future transit station. The bridge also meets Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) standards to support use by all community members. The overcrossing will also provide access to the future Brentwood Transit Center and BART Station.

“The opening of the Mokelumne Pedestrian Overcrossing marks a significant milestone for alternative and innovative transportation in Contra Costa County,” said CCTA Board Chair Newell Arnerich. “The bridge was designed for the future in mind: access to future development in Brentwood as well as creating a wider pathway to someday accommodate many forms of environmentally friendly travel, including autonomous shuttle vehicles.”

The overcrossing also provides a connection to the planned Innovation Center at Brentwood, a 200+ acre parcel that city officials have zoned for employer and development partners to create a workplace community.  

“The City of Brentwood is proud to have partnered with CCTA on this important project, which brings greater connectivity for bicyclists and pedestrians in Eastern Contra Costa County,” said Mayor Joel Bryant. “The project complements the City’s emphasis on innovation, safety and being financially wise – no city funds were used to construct the overcrossing.”

The cost to design and build the bridge was approximately $13 million, with funding provided through Measure J taxpayer dollars, the State Route 4 Bypass Authority and Bay Area Toll Authority (BATA) bridge toll funds. 

“Closing the gap between the Mokelumne Trail by constructing a bridge to span Highway 4 was a priority project for CCTA as the overcrossing allows safe access to cyclists and pedestrians for commuting and recreational travel,” said CCTA Executive Director Tim Haile who spoke while wearing a helmet as he said  rode his bike to the event and rides his bike to work every day. “This project represents CCTA’s commitment to improving mobility and furthering safe and accessible transportation for all.” 

Learn more about the overcrossing by clicking here: Mokelumne Trail Bicycle/Pedestrian Overcrossing.

About the Contra Costa Transportation Authority: 

The Contra Costa Transportation Authority (CCTA) is a public agency formed by Contra Costa voters in 1988 to manage the county’s transportation sales tax program and oversee countywide transportation planning efforts. With a staff of 23 people managing a multi-billion-dollar suite of projects and programs, CCTA is responsible for planning, funding, and delivering critical transportation infrastructure projects and programs that connect our communities, foster a strong economy, increase sustainability, and safely and efficiently get people where they need to go. CCTA also serves as the county’s designated Congestion Management Agency, responsible for putting programs in place to keep traffic levels manageable. More information about CCTA is available at ccta.net.

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.

For kids ages 5-12

By City of Antioch Recreation Department

Join us at Coyote Hills Spring Break Camp March 25-29, 2024 – the ultimate destination for fun, adventure, and unforgettable memories! Designed specifically for energetic and curious young minds, our camp promises an action-packed week filled with excitement, exploration, and new friendships!

Enjoy extended care options for parents who need early drop-off or pick-up.

Held at the Antioch Community Center in Prewett Family Park, 4703 Lone Tree Way.

To register click here.

$202.7K from the Office of Traffic Safety

Contra Costa Health (CCH) announced today that it has received a $202,692 grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) to support its Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety Program. This grant will allow CCH to promote safe practices for pedestrians and bicyclists and provide education about the importance of sharing the road.

Local data show an increase of nearly 30% in fatal crashes involving pedestrians over the past 10 years in Contra Costa County, and that pedestrians and bicyclists are 2.4 times more likely to be seriously injured or killed in a traffic crash compared to drivers. The OTS grant funds multiple efforts to improve safety for pedestrians and bicyclists.

“Everyone deserves a safe environment to travel, regardless of how people get to places,” OTS Director Barbara Rooney said. “The safety of people walking and biking on our roads is a high priority. Education plays a pivotal role in creating a strong road safety culture that prioritizes traffic safety, especially for our most vulnerable road users.”

Grant funds will support a variety of activities focused on bicycle and pedestrian safety:

• Support for local jurisdictions to include public health in road safety plans and address the community conditions that create unsafe environments for non-motorized road users.
• Local bicycle and pedestrian safety campaigns.
• Community bicycle and walk “audits” of streets with high rates of pedestrian or bicyclist fatalities and serious injury crashes.
• Bicycle training courses that teach youth on how to stay safe on the road.
• Community events that promote bicyclist and pedestrian visibility and the importance of sharing the road, slowing down, and staying alert to bicyclists and pedestrians while driving.

Area Goals for the OTS program include:

• Reduce the total number of pedestrians killed.
• Reduce the total number of pedestrians injured.
• Reduce the number of pedestrians killed under the age of 15.
• Reduce the number of pedestrians injured under the age of 15.
• Reduce the number of pedestrians killed over the age of 65.
• Reduce the number of pedestrians injured over the age of 65.
• Reduce the total number of bicyclists killed in traffic related crashes.
• Reduce the total number of bicyclists injured in traffic related crashes.
• Reduce the number of bicyclists killed in traffic related crashes under the age of 15.
• Reduce the number of bicyclists injured in traffic related crashes under the age of 15.
• Increase bicycle helmet compliance for children aged 5 to 18.

The grant program will run through September 2024.

Funding for this program was provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

By Jen Vanya, Public Information Specialist, East Bay Regional Park District 

For the past 31 years, the East Bay Regional Park District has encouraged the public to explore their Regional Parks through its annual Trails Challenge program. The free program connects people with nature and healthy recreation by providing 20 designated trails for each year’s challenge.

The 2024 Guidebook includes 20 trails available for all levels of fitness, ranging from easy and moderate to challenging. There are trails open to hikers, bicyclists, dogs, and equestrians. Trails Challenge 2024 also offers increased accessibility with trails that have been evaluated and identified as usable by persons with mobility limitations.

To complete the challenge, hike five of the 20 trails, or 26.2 miles (the distance of a marathon) of trails within East Bay Regional Park District. You can submit your log, online or by mail, by December 1, 2024, and receive a commemorative pin, while supplies last.

Trails Challenge is made possible in partnership with the Regional Parks Foundation and Kaiser Permanente, who have both sponsored Trails Challenge since 2005.

Download the 2024 Trails Challenge and learn more at ebparks.org/TC.

Tips for the Trails

East Bay Regional Parks are popular with hikers, bikers, equestrians, and nature viewers, among others. Help keep trails enjoyable for all by following these tips for the trails:

• Hikers: Stay to the right and stay alert
• Bikers: Slow down around others and call out or ring your bell when passing
• Equestrians: Keep to the right around other trail users and let them know how to pass your horse safely

More tips for trail safety can be found on our Trails are for Everyone webpage: www.ebparks.org/about-us/whats-new/news/trails-are-everyone.

The East Bay Regional Park District is the largest regional park system in the nation, comprising 73 parks, 55 miles of shoreline, and over 1,300 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.