Contra Loma Estates Park. Photo by City of Antioch Parks and Recreation Department.

By Allen Payton

During their meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 25, the Antioch City Council received positive news about a state grant the city was awarded for improvements to the Contra Loma Estates Park. The city applied for state funds through a competitive process designed to “create new parks and new recreation opportunities in underserved communities across California” according to the Statewide Parks Program webpage.

The park is located at the corner of Mahogany Way and Manzanita Way.

According to Nancy Kaiser, Antioch’s Parks and Recreation Department Director, there were “478 applications in this latest round” and “a $2.3 billion total ask.”

The funds are from Proposition 68 state parks and water bonds, which voters passed in 2018. It authorized “$4 billion in general obligation bonds for state and local parks, environmental protection projects, water infrastructure projects, and flood protection projects,” according to Ballotpedia.

“The state granted a total of $254.9 million and approved 62 projects statewide,” she added. “The Contra Loma Estates Park application was $2.9 million.”

The $2,952,000 in state funds will be used for the renovations to the park, including constructing new outdoor gym and exercise equipment, a shaded picnic and BBQ area, shaded structure, dog park, walking and jogging exercise pathway, climbing feature, lighting and fencing for existing basketball court, restroom, and lighting throughout the park.

The average grant request statewide was $4.8 million, and the average grant amount was $4.1 million, according to the California State Parks Statewide Parks Program webpage. It “is the largest park related grant program in California’s history.”

Only three projects in the county were approved. Two in Richmond and the one in Antioch.

Asked if the city received the entire amount, Kaiser replied “yes” to applause from the council.

“So, congratulations to everyone,” she said.

“Congratulations to you and all of us,” said Mayor Sean Wright. “Thank you, staff for the hard work.”

“This is an exciting opportunity for our city that was made possible by the hard work and dedication of our Parks and Recreation Department,” said Kaiser. “We are always working to develop key partnerships that will work with us to enhance the parks and recreation experience for our residents. On behalf of the city of Antioch, I’d like to thank the State of California for their investment in our community.”

The Kiwanis Club of the Delta-Antioch will hold their 43rd Annual Holiday Run & Walk for Health fundraiser on Saturday, Dec. 14 at Contra Loma Regional Park. Following is the schedule for the various races and age categories.

Registration Begins at 7:30 a.m.

1 Mile Run/Walk 9 a.m.

Ages: 6 & under, 7-9, 10-12. All ages are welcome. For those over the age of 12 entry is for fitness and fun. Ribbons will be awarded to all participants.

10K Run 9:30 a.m.

Ages: 13 & under; 14-18; 19-29; 30-39; 40-49; 50-59; 60-69; 70+

3 Mile Run/Walk 9:35 a.m.

Ages: 9 & under; 10-12; 13-15; 16-18; 19-24; 25-29; 30-39; 40-49; 50-59; 60-69, 70+

Kids Dashes with Santa 10:15 a.m.

Ages: 3 & under (20 yds.); 4-5 (40 yds.); 6-7 (60 yds.)

For more information and to register online visit www.holidayrunandwalk.org.

A “paw parade,” with fun family activities is the theme for Family Night in the Park on Wednesday, September 18, 2019 at Markley Creek Park in Antioch. As part of the Rollin’ with Rec Pop-Up Recreation program, “pawp up” night includes everything dogs and pets. Bring your dog for the parade, stay for the fun family games and special presentations. The K-9 Unit of the Antioch Police Department will provide a special presentation and the City’s Animal Services Department will be on hand with a lot of resources for your pets. All the fun begins at 6:00pm. Markley Creek Park is located on Summit Way off of James Donlon Boulevard and Somersville Road. Bring your picnic dinner and enjoy the sunset, the views, and the laughter. For more information about summer programs and the Rollin’ with Rec van, call the Recreation Department at 925-776-3050.

By Patti Shaner 

Runners and volunteers are needed to participate in the 8th Annual Delta Harvest Run in Brentwood, Sunday, Sept. 8th.  All of the net proceeds go to the Delta Realtors Community Service Foundation. The DRCSF is a non-profit organization run by local Realtors and affiliates.  Since its establishment in 2005, the DRCSF has been offering scholarships to graduating high school seniors at each of the high schools from Pittsburg to Discovery Bay.  It is estimated that the Foundation has awarded over $100,000 in high school scholarships since its inception.  In addition to scholarships, the Foundation consistently donates money to local food banks, Community Chests, Homeless Shelters, Elderly Make A Wish, and other charitable organizations in East Contra Costa County.

The Delta Harvest Run offers a half marathon, 10K, 5k and a 1 Mile Family Fun Run. The DHR begins and ends at the beautiful City Park in downtown Brentwood at the corner of Oak and 2nd Streets.  The flat route meanders thru the tree lined city streets and on the peaceful and scenic Marsh Creek trail.  The run is facilitated by a professional race and timing company.  All participants will receive a finishers metal, a custom performance-shirt, a swag bag and snacks at the finish line.   New this year the runners will receive a token for a free beer, glass of Champaign, an ice cream or a coffee.   The DHR will also award age group metals as well as overall male and female trophies.

The half marathon begins at 7:30 a.m., with a prerace warm-up lead by a professional instructor prior to race time.  The awards ceremony will take place at The City Park immediately following the race.

For more information about the run or to registration as a runner or a volunteer go to the website at http://www.deltaharvestrun.com/.  You can also call the race director Patti Shaner at 925-584-1614.

Applications for scholarships will be available at each of the high school career centers by early December.  Interested seniors can also call Tonia at the Delta Associate of Realtors at (925) 757-8283 to receive an application.  The Delta Realtors Community Service Foundation is proud to support our community.

By Jimmy Lee, Director of Public Affairs, Contra Costa County Office of the Sheriff

Sunday morning at about 2:18 a.m., Delta Station Deputy Sheriffs responded to Indian Slough for a missing person detail. Two men were fishing on an inflatable raft at Indian Slough when the raft apparently had a malfunction. One of the men swam to shore, but the other person was unaccounted for.

A CHP helicopter, U.S. Coast Guard and Contra Costa Fire Protection District arrived on scene with boats and aerial support, however, the missing man was not located

Sheriff’s Office Marine Patrol Unit later arrived on scene and took over the investigation and search. Anyone with any information on the incident is asked to contact Sheriff’s Office dispatch at (925) 646-2441.

Graphic by East Bay Regional Park District.

The Hazel-Atlas Mine and Greathouse Visitor Center will be closed until September 10 while a new exhibit is installed. No mine tours will be available during the construction period. Sidney Flat Visitor Center, located at park headquarters, will be open on weekends during the summer from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

The new Black Diamond Coal Mine exhibit, built into the existing Hazel-Atlas silica sand mine, will be an immersive experience taking visitors into a recreated 1870s coal mine, part of California’s largest coal mining operation. All of the original coal mines at the preserve have been closed to the public and permanently sealed for public safety. Visitors to the new exhibit will experience the sights and sounds of a working coal mine from nearly 150 years ago when immigrant miners worked deep in the earth to supply California with the energy needed to power and transform the state’s economy from rural to industrial. The new exhibit is scheduled to open to the public in the spring.

Black Diamond Mines Naturalist Eddie Willis is looking forward to the new addition to the Hazel-Atlas Mine and Greathouse Visitor Center. “We are excited to showcase this new exhibit which will allow visitors to connect more directly with the coal mining legacy of these hills in a safe and educational way,” said Willis.

To help fund the visitor center exhibit, the Regional Parks Foundation secured two grants from the Wayne and Gladys Valley Foundation and Marathon Petroleum.