Aramburu Island Shoreline Protection and Ecological Enhancement Project:
Aramburu Island is located at Richardson Bay, off the coast of Tiburon, California. The relatively small island was created in the early 1960s by dredge spoils and fill from nearby development. Aramburu Island is protected by Marin County Parks, but has been lacking much needed attention. The island has been taken over by invasive species. Waves have caused heavy erosion. The Audubon Society recently discovered that birds in Richardson Bay were using Aramburu Island as a refuge from toxic waters. A plan was designed to improve aquatic, wetland, and upland habitats for a range of local species, stabilize the rapidly eroding eastern shoreline, and help the island and surrounding communities adapt to sea level rise. It created unique and important wetland, beach, and terrestrial habitats for birds and wildlife and focused on creating habitats for terns and other water birds. The new focus is to create our new plants through watering only through April so that they can become tolerant of California's dry summer. The Audubon Society will continues to plant native species, remove invasive species, monitor birds and vegetation, maintain the shoreline, and continue work to improve habitats and ecosystems on the island through 2017. After that Marin County Parks will take on the monitoring and maintenance of the Island.
Castro Park Playground Renovation:
Castro Park was a little old abandoned little league baseball field that was rebuilt in 2003. It was turned into a 1.5-acre park and playground that now needs a few structural improvements. A public meeting was held to discuss ideas on how to renovate the play area and the project is currently moving forward and getting input from the community.
Integrated Pest Management Program:
The 2016 Allowed Pesticides List for landscape and structural uses report was approved by the Marin County Boards of Supervisors. The report spoke about achievements, partnerships, and a combined effort to reduce chemicals. 126 out of 147 parks and county facilities were managed without using pesticides last year. Additionally, 37,000 hours were spent removing invasive species like french broom, scotch broom, thistles, fennel, and other non-native plants.
McNears Beach Park Plan:
McNears Beach Park is a 55-acre park located in San Rafael. The park well-loved by many people, but is now starting to show its age. In June of 2014 a contract was signed to update the park's facilities and other programs such as various buildings and walkways, the water, electrical, telephone, and irrigation lines.
Paradise Beach Park Plan:
Paradise Beach Park is Marin County’s smallest park. It is located on the Tiburon Peninsula. The park has a lot of history, it has been used for over 150 years, and was a Navy depot during World War II. In June, 2014 a contract was signed to improve the park’s facilities and other programs showcase both the park's beauty and its history.
Stafford Lake Bike Park:
A bike park was first proposed in 2008, due to a mutual community and administrative interest. Many different locations in Marin were thought of, and in 2011, a master plan for the bike park was drafted. Marin County Parks began construction of the trails in July 2014. They began to build trails such as Perimeter Trail, the Mike’s Bikes Progression Zone (with beginner, intermediate, and advanced trails), a maintenance trail that provides access to the upper areas of the park, and the Kids' Learn-to-Ride Zone. These trails are known as Phase I of the park and opened in August 2015. They continued to work on building the entry plaza, gateway, and more. They also plan to build intermediate pump tracks, a terrain park, downhill and flow trails, bridge crossings, progression trails with balance features, and a main event plaza. The park was designed so that riders of all abilities could test their skills in a safe, fun, and appropriate place in beautiful Marin County. Stafford Lake is the North Bay's first public bike park and is the only park with a dual slalom course west of Truckee.
Stafford Lake Park Plan:
The Stafford Lake Park is a large park located in Novato, California. It is unique because of its rural setting. In June 2014 Marin County Parks contracted landscape architects and planners to update the plan. The plan includes improvements to the park’s facilities and other programs. The park is set up for fishing, group picnicking, hiking, disk golf, and larges events with an enormous maximum capacity of 5,000 people. Community workshops are held periodically to gather the public's ideas.
Aramburu Island is located at Richardson Bay, off the coast of Tiburon, California. The relatively small island was created in the early 1960s by dredge spoils and fill from nearby development. Aramburu Island is protected by Marin County Parks, but has been lacking much needed attention. The island has been taken over by invasive species. Waves have caused heavy erosion. The Audubon Society recently discovered that birds in Richardson Bay were using Aramburu Island as a refuge from toxic waters. A plan was designed to improve aquatic, wetland, and upland habitats for a range of local species, stabilize the rapidly eroding eastern shoreline, and help the island and surrounding communities adapt to sea level rise. It created unique and important wetland, beach, and terrestrial habitats for birds and wildlife and focused on creating habitats for terns and other water birds. The new focus is to create our new plants through watering only through April so that they can become tolerant of California's dry summer. The Audubon Society will continues to plant native species, remove invasive species, monitor birds and vegetation, maintain the shoreline, and continue work to improve habitats and ecosystems on the island through 2017. After that Marin County Parks will take on the monitoring and maintenance of the Island.
Castro Park Playground Renovation:
Castro Park was a little old abandoned little league baseball field that was rebuilt in 2003. It was turned into a 1.5-acre park and playground that now needs a few structural improvements. A public meeting was held to discuss ideas on how to renovate the play area and the project is currently moving forward and getting input from the community.
Integrated Pest Management Program:
The 2016 Allowed Pesticides List for landscape and structural uses report was approved by the Marin County Boards of Supervisors. The report spoke about achievements, partnerships, and a combined effort to reduce chemicals. 126 out of 147 parks and county facilities were managed without using pesticides last year. Additionally, 37,000 hours were spent removing invasive species like french broom, scotch broom, thistles, fennel, and other non-native plants.
McNears Beach Park Plan:
McNears Beach Park is a 55-acre park located in San Rafael. The park well-loved by many people, but is now starting to show its age. In June of 2014 a contract was signed to update the park's facilities and other programs such as various buildings and walkways, the water, electrical, telephone, and irrigation lines.
Paradise Beach Park Plan:
Paradise Beach Park is Marin County’s smallest park. It is located on the Tiburon Peninsula. The park has a lot of history, it has been used for over 150 years, and was a Navy depot during World War II. In June, 2014 a contract was signed to improve the park’s facilities and other programs showcase both the park's beauty and its history.
Stafford Lake Bike Park:
A bike park was first proposed in 2008, due to a mutual community and administrative interest. Many different locations in Marin were thought of, and in 2011, a master plan for the bike park was drafted. Marin County Parks began construction of the trails in July 2014. They began to build trails such as Perimeter Trail, the Mike’s Bikes Progression Zone (with beginner, intermediate, and advanced trails), a maintenance trail that provides access to the upper areas of the park, and the Kids' Learn-to-Ride Zone. These trails are known as Phase I of the park and opened in August 2015. They continued to work on building the entry plaza, gateway, and more. They also plan to build intermediate pump tracks, a terrain park, downhill and flow trails, bridge crossings, progression trails with balance features, and a main event plaza. The park was designed so that riders of all abilities could test their skills in a safe, fun, and appropriate place in beautiful Marin County. Stafford Lake is the North Bay's first public bike park and is the only park with a dual slalom course west of Truckee.
Stafford Lake Park Plan:
The Stafford Lake Park is a large park located in Novato, California. It is unique because of its rural setting. In June 2014 Marin County Parks contracted landscape architects and planners to update the plan. The plan includes improvements to the park’s facilities and other programs. The park is set up for fishing, group picnicking, hiking, disk golf, and larges events with an enormous maximum capacity of 5,000 people. Community workshops are held periodically to gather the public's ideas.