The future Hercules Intermodal Station and “its relation to the Bay Trail will be discussed Thursday at a meeting of the Pinole/Hercules/East Bay Regional Park District [EBRPD] Joint Powers Agency board.” The meeting will be held at 2pm at Pinole’s City Hall.

The design team has been referring to the Bay Trail segment through the Hercules Bayfront project as the “promenade,” in part because it will be much wider than the standard trail and will be made up of stone or brick (not the typical black asphalt). The Bay Trail will be elevated above the adjacent railroad tracks in the immediate vicinity of the station.

During a Library and Community Services Commission meeting last summer, the City had stated that it would consider providing the maintenance along the trail through the waterfront if EBRPD would refund the costs (similar to the arrangement the City has with BART for maintenance of the new transit center parking lot).

This would be an ideal scenario as many residents are aware of the lack of care/maintenance currently provided by EBRPD along the trail. However, such a planned extension of the Bay Trail, as well as the proposed park on Hercules Point, will undoubtedly increase this area’s visibility to the parks district, and would likely require significant more maintenance investment by EBRPD anyway. That being said, it would be all the better if the City was able to ensure clean trails and parks on EBRPD land in the waterfront.

On a side note, for those that regularly use the East Bay Regional Parks (the largest urban parks district in the U.S.), please consider supporting the parks by becoming a member. The annual pass pays for itself after a dozen or so visits (especially if you have a dog), and the system is a true and plentiful resource.