Photos 19Apr19 – This shoot was made in 2019 at another wonderfully target rich environment of mostly the slow-movers of the bird kingdom. Herons, Geese, Egrets, Cormorants, a juvenile Red Tail.
Photos 19Apr19
Popi presents:
Shadow Cliffs – April 19, 2019
Photos 19Apr19
Shadow Cliffs Regional Recreation Area, located on the border of Pleasanton and Livermore, has a history rooted in the industrial growth of the Tri-Valley. Long before it was a destination for swimming and fishing, the site served as a major gravel quarry operated by Kaiser Industries.
Industrial Origins
During the mid-20th century, the area was an active excavation site. The “pits” were dug deep into the earth to extract sand and gravel, essential materials for the post-war construction boom in the San Francisco Bay Area. Eventually, these deep excavations reached the water table, causing them to fill naturally with groundwater and forming what would become the park’s centerpiece lake.
Conversion to Parklands
As the quarrying operations ceased, Kaiser Industries opted to donate the land to the East Bay Regional Park District (EBRPD). The donation was finalized in the late 1960s, and the land’s assessed value of $250,000 was used to secure a matching grant from the U.S. Bureau of Outdoor Recreation. This funding allowed the district to transform the industrial site into a public space, which officially opened as a park in 1971.
Modern Evolution
The park spans 266 acres, featuring an 80-acre lake and an arroyo with a chain of smaller ponds. For decades, one of its most recognizable features was a set of four large water slides, which were a major draw for families until their closure in 2011. Since then, the park has shifted its focus back toward natural recreation, including:
- Wildlife Observation: The arroyo serves as a critical habitat for migratory birds.
- Recreation: It remains a premier spot for fishing (stocked with trout and catfish) and non-gasoline boating.
- Conservation: The park now focuses on water quality management and the preservation of its riparian corridors.
Today, Shadow Cliffs stands as a successful example of “industrial reclamation,” where a former mining site has been successfully repurposed into a vital ecological and recreational asset for the community.
As long as the Dogs can walk here off leash, we’ll return again and again. It’s a great place for family fun too.
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