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The sun has been shining. The skies clearer. Flowers in bloom and natural grasses lush green. And more hikers, bikers and pooches — not to mention, resident critters — are turning out on trails that are starting to dry out after winter rains.
That’s the scene you’ll find these days at Augustin Bernal Community Park, the city’s 237-acre public tract on the Pleasanton Ridge complete with miles of trails, a wealth of open space and some of the best views Pleasanton has to offer.
The city park, and its main staging area at 8200 Golden Eagle Way, are traditionally accessed through the main gate to the Golden Eagle Farm gated neighborhood, with all Pleasanton residents able to get into the park with valid proof of residency and non-residents able to get in with a city-issued pass.
Augustin Bernal trails also connect to the 5,271-acre Pleasanton Ridge Regional Park, managed by the East Bay Regional Park District.
To spotlight the spring scene there, I recently joined local photographer and frequent Pleasanton Ridge hiker Chuck Deckert for a tour of the parkland the city refers to as its “natural jewel.”
Check out our favorite photos from that tour, along with a few others Deckert has taken at the city park so far this spring. To learn more about Augustin Bernal Community Park, visit www.ptownlife.org/parks.
Editor’s note: Longtime Pleasanton resident Chuck Deckert has been hiking on the Ridge for more than 30 years. He was also sworn in this week as the newest alternate on the city’s Parks and Recreation Commission.
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Augustin Bernal Community Park trail map. (Image courtesy of city of Pleasanton) -
This entry sign greets park-goers just past the Golden Eagle Way staging area. (Photo by Chuck Deckert) -
California poppies in bloom at the Pleasanton Ridge. (Photo by Chuck Deckert) -
A western fence lizard gazes atop a rock just off the Golden Eagle Trail. (Photo by Chuck Deckert) -
This rock monument near the entrance of the park commemorates Walter S. Johnson, who granted the future park land to the city in 1971. (Photo by Chuck Deckert) -
“Frog Pond” alongside the Valley View Trail. (Photo by Chuck Deckert) -
An oak tree near sunset along the Ridgeline Trail at the city of Pleasanton’s Augustin Bernal Community Park on the Pleasanton Ridge. (Photo by Chuck Deckert) -
The sun peeks through trees toward the southern end of the park. California poppy in bloom at the Pleasanton Ridge. (Photo by Chuck Deckert) -
Pleasanton city naturalist Ashley Zubrik leads a field trip of Augustin Bernal Community Park with third-graders from Marguerite Ware’s class at Dublin’s Dougherty Elementary School. (Photo by Chuck Deckert) -
City crews are spending part of the spring fixing damage caused to trails by winter rainstorms. This trail area construction is close to being resolved. (Photo by Chuck Deckert) -
Hikers can catch a glimpse of the orange-bellied newt, sometimes affectionately referred to as the “Ridge newt.” (Photo by Chuck Deckert) -
The Ridge has some of the best views of Pleasanton and the Tri-Valley. (Photo by Chuck Deckert) -
Chuck Deckert’s 1-year-old Labrador retriever Zoey stops for a photo at the southern part of Augustin Bernal. (Photo by Chuck Deckert)
The Pleasanton Ridge is such a great community asset. Get out now to enjoy the floral display.
Chuck Deckert – thanks for your beautiful pictures.
Pleasanton Ridge is a great escape, as are the adjacent EPRPD open lands. Treasure it and keep supporting all the wonderful open space we have!
Thanks for the wonderful photos. We are blessed to this area open to the public.
I just want to echo the other comments here in saying it’s really such a privilege to have so much open space so close by. The EBRPD’s recent assessment of the economic benefits of our open spaces is hopefully seen by any who would open up these areas to development. As Pleasanton continues to develop, hopefully we see a commitment to preserving these areas on our outskirts as well as within the heart of town. Green is good!