Richmond Leader on the Trail for Coastal Parks and Recreation

Published: January, 2007 

Five of Richmond’s waterfront parks are already linked by a 4-mile stretch of the trail, providing a path for hikers, joggers, bicyclists and skaters. Countless panoramic waterfront views and bird watching opportunities are plentiful since the adjacent open waters, salt marsh, and tidal mud flats are important wintering and stopover sites for migrating shorebirds and waterfowl. Avocets, American Oystercatchers, Egrets, Herons, Terns and Gulls can be seen here. Sometimes, even the endangered Clipper Rail, may be seen or heard foraging in tidal channels.

Lucretia Edwards Shoreline Park, just east of the historic Ford Point Building at the mouth of Marina Bay, honors the Bay Area Shipyards. This park’s interpretive elements pay tribute to the collective contributions made by all Bay Area shipyards during WWII. It was named for local community activist the late Lucretia W. Edwards, the woman greatly responsible for the preservation of waterfront land for public use.

Just around Marina Bay, less than a mile from Lucretia Edwards Park is another park named to honor the efforts of not just one, but many women.

Rosie the Riveter Memorial Park, located in what was once the heart of Kaiser Shipyard #2, today, overlooks a picturesque marina filled with recreational boats. During WWII, 747 war ships were produced here with the help of many women, who provided a crucial contribution to the war’s production demands. These women are memorialized here through historic photos, drawings and memories of shipyard workers in a framework reminiscent of a Liberty Ship.

Continuing for about another mile around Marina Bay, the Bay Trail leads to Vincent Park on the east side of the mouth of Marina Bay, just across from Lucretia Edwards Park. Vincent Park was named for Barbara & Jay Vincent, two people who worked to create a number of parks and a natural trailway along the East Bay shoreline. Vincent Park offers panoramic views of the Bay, a playground, offshore fishing and the Shipyard Stories sculpture — a replica Liberty Ship smokestack covered with historic photographs and oral histories describing shipyard workers’ daily experiences during WWII.

Another half mile down the Bay Trail is Shimada Friendship Park, which celebrates Richmond’s friendship with its sister city of Shimada in Japan. Three large travertine stones comprising the central monument signify friendship and symbolize the relationship between heaven, earth and humankind.

Park number five is about a mile-and-a-half down the Bay Trail. Point Isabel Regional Shoreline Park is best known for its daily canine population. It is the largest off-leash public dog park in the U.S., with over 500,000 dogs visiting the 21-acre park each year. Views of the San Francisco skyline, the Golden Gate and Marin County from the park’s shoreline are simply stunning, and the park offers facilities for both humans and their furry friends.

Mudpuppy’s Tub & Scrub can be a life saver after Fido decides he wants to roll around in the dirt and then jump back in the car for a ride home. Mudpuppy’s rents everything anyone could need to wash their dog, including an elevated tub, shampoo, towels and brushes; or, there’s a friendly staff who will do the scrubbing. Prices vary depending on who does the washing and the size of the dog. A full selection of doggy treats, toys and natural earth-friendly products are also available. Reservations are recommended.

While the pooch is getting a bath and munching on a new rawhide bone, owners can roam to the other side of the Tub & Scrub building to Mudpuppy’s Sit & Stay Café to grab something to sip or chew on as well. The atmosphere couldn’t be better to meet fellow pet lovers, while your dog makes new friends.

Richmond’s well-deserved reputation for having preserved prime waterfront land for public use can best be summed up with a quote that is literally carved in stone at Lucretia Edwards Shoreline Park; We live in stressful times. Relief from stress of mind, body and spirit comes from beauty. We, users of shoreline parks on the beautiful San Francisco Bay, are grateful for the peace, happiness and respite from stress that they bring. – Lucretia W. Edwards 2002