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Health & Fitness

DID YOU KNOW That The Association of Bay Area Governments is Accepting Grant Applications for Water Trail Improvements?

     In 2005 the California State Legislature enacted AB 1296 the Water Trail Act with the express purpose of creating a water trail not unlike the San Francisco Bay Trail, a pedestrian and bike trail, that almost circles the bay but instead is on the water in San Francisco Bay.   Implementation to make this happen is being led by the State Coastal Conservancy in association with the Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG), the San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission and the California Division of Boating and Waterways.

     The Water Trail is a growing network of launching and landing sites that allow non-motorized human powered watercraft users to enjoy the historic, scenic, cultural and environmental bounty the San Francisco and San Pablo Bays offer.  The exciting part of this all is that these are not just empty words. The Conservancy actually awarded ABAG a million dollar ($1,000,000) grant to help ensure that this project actually came to fruition, and recently augmented that grant with an additional $750,000.  Some of the already approved sites include McNears Beach in Marin, Angel Island and Ferry Point in Richmond.                   

     Over the past several months I have been in contact with ABAG representative Ms. Galli Basson and actually had a chance to meet her at one of the last Inner Harbor Specific Plan Meetings.  Ms. Basson mentioned that the program still has about $700K in grant money to disburse and would be interested in receiving individual projects for up to about $150K per project.   Applications are being accepted continuously until such a time as funds run out.  These funds can be used for infrastructure improvements such as new docks and fingers especially low free board docks as well as for other site improvement projects.  Docktown, the Peninsula Yacht Club and Bair Island Aquatic Center right here in Redwood City would be happy to apply to become designated sites but according to Ms. Basson grant funds cannot be given until there is a long-term plan in place that ensures these sites will be open to the public for at least twenty years.  Ms. Basson further explained: ”we recognize the importance of bay access in Redwood City for many different types of boaters in the South Bay and the Peninsula, and look forward to forming partnerships with City staff and the City’s boating community through the Water Trail.”





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