See and Do!
Measure WW Updates
- Resources
-
- Measure WW Booklet
- A Case Study and Reference (2MB, PDF)
The East Bay Regional Park District (EBRPD) was founded in 1934, during the depths of the Great Depression, by active citizens concerned about protecting regional open space.
For nearly 75 years EBRPD has been a major component of the East Bay’s “quality of life” index, expanding, even during lean times, to meet the needs of East Bay residents. Today EBRPD is the largest regional park agency in the United States. It has preserved over 100,000 acres of open space in 65 regional parks serving over 2.4 million residents in Alameda and Contra Costa Counties.
But, in 1988, with increasing urbanization in the East Bay and skyrocketing land prices, EBRPD struggled to keep pace with the growing population. To address the need to continue to preserve open space and create new regional parks for the public, EBRPD’s Board of Directors asked the voters in Alameda and Contra Costa Counties to help. By a 2/3 vote, Measure AA, a $225 million bond measure, was approved by voters that year. Over the next 20 years, Measure AA made possible the preservation of 34,000 acres of some of the most beautiful and pristine East Bay land, creeks, and shoreline, and added over 100 miles of trails.
It also benefited community park and recreation facilities by providing $60 million of this funding to local city park projects, meeting important local needs.
While much was accomplished with the 1988 bond measure, there is still much to do. Measure AA funds have largely been expended and the last remaining funds have been fully allocated to complete promised projects.
The population of Alameda and Contra Costa Counties continues to grow, and the Park District needs to preserve vanishing open space and shoreline to keep pace with the recreational needs of East Bay residents. To help address the need, the Board of Directors of the East Bay Regional Park District placed Measure WW on the November 2008 ballot. Measure WW extended Measure AA and will help EBRPD meet the increasing demand to preserve open space for recreation and wildlife habitat. And it will also provide funding directly to cities and special park districts for high priority community park projects. Because Measure WW is an extension, it will not raise the current tax rate.
Quick Facts:
Amount:
• $500 million bond extension that was approved by 72% of the voters
in Alameda and Contra Costa Counties.
Cost:
• This extension will not increase the tax rate above the present maximum
rate of $10 per year per $100,000 of assessed valuation (i.e., a home assessed
at $400,000 will pay $40 per year).
Use of Funds:
• $375 million (75%) of revenue will fund Regional Park acquisition and capital
projects, with $26.2 million (7%) of that amount held in reserve for unanticipated future needs and opportunities.
• $125 million (25%) of proceeds will go to cities, special park and recreation
districts, county service areas, and the Oakland Zoo for much-needed local
park and recreation projects.
Accountability:
• The Park Advisory Committee will provide citizen oversight to monitor
all bond expenditures.
in Alameda and Contra Costa Counties.
Cost:
• This extension will not increase the tax rate above the present maximum
rate of $10 per year per $100,000 of assessed valuation (i.e., a home assessed
at $400,000 will pay $40 per year).
Use of Funds:
• $375 million (75%) of revenue will fund Regional Park acquisition and capital
projects, with $26.2 million (7%) of that amount held in reserve for unanticipated future needs and opportunities.
• $125 million (25%) of proceeds will go to cities, special park and recreation
districts, county service areas, and the Oakland Zoo for much-needed local
park and recreation projects.
Accountability:
• The Park Advisory Committee will provide citizen oversight to monitor
all bond expenditures.
Exception:
• Livermore is not included in Measure WW. Livermore voters did not vote on Measure WW because Measure WW is an extension of Measure AA approved by voters in 1988. At that time, Livermore was not part of the East Bay Regional Park District. The East Bay Regional Park District is working closely with the Livermore Area Recreational Park District to identify sources of capital funding for future acquisitions and development.
- PROJECT LIST - Measure WW - Regional Open Space, Wildlife, Shoreline and Parks Bond Extension Project List (Acrobat PDF)
- PROJECT MAP - Measure WW - Regional Open Space, Wildlife, Shoreline and Parks Bond Extension Projects Map (Acrobat PDF)
- EXIT POLL - Voting Results (Acrobat PDF)
Local Grant Program Documents
Information on the per capita local grant program for city parks and recreation departments and special park districts in Alameda and Contra Costa Counties:
- Procedural Guide for the Local Grant Program (Acrobat PDF)
- Forms, Measure WW Local Grant Program (Microsoft Excel)
- Grant Guideline Clarifications for Applicant Agencies – March 2010 (Acrobat PDF)
Measure AA
For more information about the successful 1988 Measure AA, visit www.ebparks.org/news/measureAA.
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