Recently major funds have become available for the progression of ongoing projects at the Berkeley Meadow and Brickyard Cove of the new Eastshore State Park. Last May, the California Coastal Conservancy gave generous grants to the East Bay Regional Park District (EBRPD) and the California State Parks Department in order to continue efforts to improve the Berkeley waterfront for people and wildlife alike. EBRPD received $1.5 million and California State Parks received $120,000 for their respective work on the Berkeley Meadow restoration and the Brickyard Cove design.

EBRPD will use the grant to complete the third and final phase of restoring Berkeley Meadow. A former landfill, the 90-acre meadow between Interstate 80 and the Berkeley Marina will be largely converted into a natural habitat for birds, though some parts will remain accessible to people. The entire restoration should be completed by 2010. Meanwhile, California State Parks will use the money for planning a 30-acre park that is to encompass the area now known as Brickyard Cove. The park will provide vital open space on what is considered an extremely accessible and visible part of the shoreline. The public planning process for the park will take place in January 2008, and a final Master Plan and Preliminary Grading Plan should be ready by May 2008.

Both projects signify a major advance for the Eastshore State Park. Dedicated in 2002, the waterfront park has certainly become a treasure of the East Bay, providing recreational opportunities for approximately 2 million park visitors each year. Berkeley contains the largest portion of the more than 2000 acres of park land. Citizens for East Shore Parks played an instrumental role in the creation of the park and now identifies as one of its primary goals the maintenance and development of the Eastshore State Park, in a way that promotes habitat restoration and recreational use.