Citizens for East Shore Parks (CESP) was founded in 1985 to counter development proposals put forth by Santa Fe Railroad, which wanted to build large-scale developments on its shoreline properties in Albany and Berkeley. Although a number of people shared the dream of an open shoreline and the idea of a park along the shore, no group existed to advocate for this dream to become reality. Environmentalists from the Citizens for the Albany Shoreline, Emeryville Shoreline Committee, Golden Gate Audubon Society, Save the Bay, and the Sierra Club banded together to form the Citizens for East Shore Parks (CESP). Other likeminded environmentalists quickly joined, as did elected and appointed officials who shared the vision of a shoreline park

CESP has been working to protect open space and establish a park along the East Bay shoreline through advocacy, outreach, and education since 1985. Over a period of 20 years, area residents and organizations have fought to preserve 1800 acres of open space in one of our nation's most densely populated urban regions. All of this hard work paid off. On December 6, 2002, the Eastshore State Park was established. 8.5 miles of Shoreline Park now stretches through five cities - from the foot of the Bay Bridge in Oakland through Emeryville, Berkeley and Albany to Richmond (Point Pinole Regional Park and the Richmond Marina).

 

 

'Popular Uprising' Helped Save Bay
Story of our co-founder, Sylvia McLaughlin's struggle to protect our bay.
The Daily Californian, October 9, 2007

Mission Statement

The mission of Citizens for East Shore Parks (CESP) is to create a necklace of shoreline parks from the Oakland Estuary to the Carquinez Strait.

A. Support public acquisition of lands on the Richmond Shoreline and other East Bay shorelines.
B. Monitor development and participate in the waterfront planning process for the Albany Shoreline.
C. Restore natural habitat and provide public amenities at the Eastshore State Park.
D. Educate the public about the importance of shoreline parks and open space for natural habitat and public uses.
E. Explore the potential for an East Shore Parks Conservancy.

Key Facts

Established:
1985 - Citizens for the Eastshore State Park
2002 - Eastshore State Park
2004 - name of the organization changed to Citizens for East Shore Parks to reflect our new mission.

Number of Acres Protected: 1,800 acres

Number of Staff: 1

Board of Directors meets the third Wednesday of each month at 7:30 pm at:

520 El Cerrito Plaza
El Cerrito, Ca 94530
(Upstairs above Trader Joe's: take elevator or stairs in foyer between Trader Joe's and GNC)