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geohaye
Joined: 03 Apr 2000 Posts: 1437
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Posted: Thu Jun 28, 2007 4:45 pm Post subject: Dream SF Bay Access Spots / Improvements |
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OK, time to dream a bit. Why the heck not?? What if we had a serious chunk of money to work with? Where could we make huge impacts on access improvements?
I have an idea/dream. If you have others, let us hear 'em.
THIRD AVENUE PARK--a dream
*Partly modeled after the Hatchery in the Gorge where the parking and rigging areas actually parallel the sailing/kiting area for a long distance -- allowing many places to rig, park, hang out...ie: the correct orientation unlike the current parking lot at Third Ave! (The best we could do, but not ideal.)
*Due to the extreme popularity of Third Avenue, this one gets a high priority tag here in dreamland.
The Year is 20XX, windsurfers and kiteboarders, with the critical help of a few of them coming forward with large amounts of cash forming a well-funded Trust, wrestle the lease for the golf course property out of the golf course's hands. The City of Foster City is happy. The golf course moves elsewhere where the land is cheaper, and they are happy.
The new Third Avenue Park features a sandy beach running from the upper "mud flats" kite launch down to the current beach. The latest in land-use planing practices provides a new park with extremely numerous close-to-the-water parking spots, plenty of windbreaks, appropriate trees and landscaping, rigging areas galore, picnic tables & BBQs, lots of real restrooms & showers, a little playground for da kids, and even an over-night camping area. A ranger is on site most of the daylight hours. Parking is free because all costs are paid through the Trust. For camping, there's a reasonable nightly fee. Visiting sailors and kiteboarders come from far and wide. Our access is secure and very-long term.
Nice dream? Yes.
Impossible? Naw. With our professional, innovative and sometimes very wealthy local community of windsurfers and kiteboarders, this is NOT impossible.
Thoughts? Other ideas? Ideas for other spots? Let 'em fly.
Some of these may even be possible some day - either through getting very wealthy individuals interested...or in some cases, simply working through the channels. SFBA (SFBA.org) works hard on SF Bay access year-round...but some of these ideas may go beyond what SFBA membership dues can achieve...
George Haye
Member, SFBA Board of Directors |
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kurtmagness
Joined: 08 Jul 2006 Posts: 68
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Posted: Thu Jun 28, 2007 4:56 pm Post subject: |
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The google boys are kiters, they jet to maui & the gorge all the time to kite. Perhaps they would be interested in this project. They could cut their carbon footprint for all that jet fuel and green up the area, perhaps a windfarm to charge their new fleet of electric cars so they can write it all off on their taxes. |
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markpaine
Joined: 04 Apr 2007 Posts: 90 Location: San Francisco, CA
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Posted: Thu Jun 28, 2007 9:02 pm Post subject: |
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I dream of a hose at Haskins. |
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kcorr1
Joined: 15 Feb 1998 Posts: 68 Location: Haight Ashbury SF
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Posted: Thu Jun 28, 2007 9:03 pm Post subject: |
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A gondola from the front porch to the embassy launch would be nice. Keep the ratty rip rap unfriendly to prevent the place from being over run by the beautiful-but-tender-footed. |
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ERROR!!!
Joined: 26 Feb 1998 Posts: 170 Location: East Bay
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Posted: Thu Jun 28, 2007 10:22 pm Post subject: dream land |
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Local governments have the power to purchase property for recreation. Or maybe Bill Gates or American Express (which is running a contest) would like our ideas. My daydreams involve the land right next to the Pittsburg boat launch. Use the narrow strip of land just west of the boat launch and west of the channel that runs out to the river. Out by the river could be secure parking, a decent launch ramp, and rigging area. The atmosphere of Pittsburg's marina area could improve thanks to the new entertainment. This could spark an improvement of the whole community (which needs the help). Whenever I take the freeway out to the delta on a windy day, I can see the white caps on the river right at this spot. It should be set aside for windsurfing and made accessible. Right now, there's just a path out to the river and so you can't park near the water, it's too dangerous to leave your vehicle unattended, and you can't launch off the rocks along the river. But this would be a very sweet place to sail in the East Bay. It is one of the windiest places and would be more convenient than driving over the Antioch bridge to the delta. |
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ERROR!!!
Joined: 26 Feb 1998 Posts: 170 Location: East Bay
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Posted: Thu Jun 28, 2007 10:49 pm Post subject: |
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You can Google "Riverview Park, Pittsburg, CA" to see one location that the local government already has, but the best spot would down at the end of McAvoy where there is a boat launch. That's where it really blows! West of the boat launch driveway is a dirt path that leads out to the river. That property should be acquired for a windsurfing park. Use the Google satelite image to see where I'm talking about. When you're on the freeway (near MacDonald's), look at the river and you'll see this unusually windy spot. |
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mogunn
Joined: 03 Apr 2006 Posts: 1307 Location: SF Bay
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Posted: Fri Jun 29, 2007 10:51 am Post subject: Re: Dream SF Bay Access Spots / Improvements |
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Geohaye wrote: | OK, time to dream a bit. Why the heck not?? What if we had a serious chunk of money to work with? Where could we make huge impacts on access improvements? |
I have a dream...
I dream that the Coyote Pt. launch will get the much talked about temporary sandbag fix before the season's done.
mo |
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sergem
Joined: 24 Oct 2003 Posts: 398
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dlester
Joined: 14 May 1995 Posts: 73
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Posted: Fri Jun 29, 2007 2:34 pm Post subject: |
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Third ave is good enough as it is. If you really want to dream/build, Treasure Island has the best wind in the bay, more often, than any where else, especially towards the end of the season. But with no good way for kiters to get back in-- it's a waste of great wind and waves....... |
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pthorner
Joined: 29 Mar 1994 Posts: 164
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Posted: Fri Jun 29, 2007 2:50 pm Post subject: Improvements / Repairs |
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coyotewindsurf: I dream that the Coyote Pt. launch will get the much talked about temporary sandbag fix before the season's done.
The latest on Coyote is that the contract was executed for design of the temporary ramp and the final plan is expected within two weeks. The planner has been working with BCDC to get guidance so that the plan will hopefully be approved witout issuance of a new permit. The target date being discussed is for paddlefest in later September which wouldn't do much for windsurfers (although once the permit is approved, the ramp should be in play for the next season or two while a major repair is worked on). I'm trying to push for an earlier installation, but much will ride on the permitting process.
How do we get new or better launches? The best bet is to work with a local government or agency since they can get there hands on existing state money and they can much more easily get permits to install ramps and facilities and they usually already have the neccesary insurance. The downside is what we are seeing at Coyote... the planning and permitting process can move very slowly... but any improvements along the Bay whether public or private have to go through BCDC. Getting the nets raised at 3rd Avenue took 2-3 years after we had formal meetings with the city and got the attorney's get involved, largely because of the way the City renegotiated the golf course lease in order to motivate the golf course.
The first question in Pittsburg is who owns the land? If the City were convinced it would become an active and vibrant park, maybe there would be some interest. they probably don't have the money needed, but they might be willing to do the work to chase money from the Department of Boating and Waterways if they had partners in the effort? Another way to get access is when commercial property owners need a BCDC permit for improvements. In many cases for larger projects BCDC will require some parking or public access to the shoreline. If you call the Community Development Director for a city, you will usually find them to be glad to talk and a great source of information as to what the possibilities and constraints are.
Peter Thorner
SFBA |
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