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UN honors East Bay parks for essential services amid pandemic

In recognition of its leadership role in providing essential services during the pandemic, the East Bay Regional Park District has received the United Nations Association’s 2021 Global Citizen Award. The award was conferred by the association’s East Bay and Silicon Valley chapters and acknowledges the park district’s commitment to the 17 sustainable development goals that the United Nations adopted in 2015 as a guide to creating a more equitable, inclusive and sustainable world for all peoples.

“We are honored to be recognized for our contribution to physical health, stress relief and mental well-being during the COVID- 19 pandemic,” park district board President Dee Rosario said. “Parks have provided an essential public service. We are proud that when the public needed us most, we answered the call and kept parks open and safe.”

The award was presented in a virtual ceremony Oct. 24 to Rosario and park district General Manager Sabrina Landreth.

SUNOL >> Live turkeys seem to be everywhere these days, except when Thanksgiving is near. You can find out more about these ubiquitous birds during a program from 9 to 10 a.m. Saturday at Sunol Regional Wilderness in southern Alameda County with naturalist Kristina Parkison, who will talk about the birds’ natural history and cultural significance, then lead a walk in search of turkeys in the wild. The program is free and registration is not required.

Sunol Regional’s staff also plan a self-guided scavenger hunt the same day. Drop by the visitor center anytime between 9 a.m. and 3:30 p.m., pick up an activity sheet and set out to discover the park. Naturalist Erica Stephens will preside. Sunol Regional Wilderness is at the end of Geary Road, off Calaveras Road, about 5 miles south of Interstate 680 and the town of Sunol. There’s a parking fee of $5 per vehicle. For information, call 510-544-3249.

ALAMEDA>> From 3 to 3:30 p.m. every Saturday and Sunday except Christmas, it’s fish feeding time in the aquarium at Crab Cove Visitor Center in Alameda. You can watch while the staff feeds crabs, fish and other San Francisco Bay inhabitants. While you’re there, check out the California Coast and Ocean Photography exhibit and photos and artifacts from Alameda’s past.

The visitor center is at 1252 McKay Ave., off Central Avenue. Parking costs $5 per vehicle when the kiosk is attended; entry to the visitor center is free. For information, call 510544-3187.

OAKLANDHILLS >> Saturday Strolls are a series of naturalist- led, moderate hikes exploring various regional parks. There’s a 2-mile stroll from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday at Huckleberry Botanic Regional Preserve in the Oakland hills. It’s free, and no registration is required. The entrance to Huckleberry is on Skyline Boulevard about a mile south of the intersection with Grizzly Peak Boulevard. For information, call 510-544-3187.

BERKELEY>> Little children will enjoy taking care of the little animals at Tilden Nature Area’s Little Farm near Berkeley. Meet at the rabbit hutch for this free program from 10:30 to 11 a.m. Nov. 7. Masks are required; no registration is necessary. The Little Farm is at the north end of Tilden’s Central Park Drive, reached via Canon Drive from Grizzly Peak Boulevard in Berkeley. For information, call 510-544-2233.

ANTIOCH >> You can see a tame local snake and learn about all the snakes that live in the regional parks in a program from 11 a.m. to noon Nov. 7 at Black Diamond Mines Regional Preserve in Antioch.

Meet naturalist Kevin Dixon in the park’s upper parking lot at the end of Somersville Road, 3½ miles south of Highway 4. It’s a drop-in program; no registration is required. Black Diamond Mines has a parking fee of $5 per vehicle. For information, call 510-544-2750.

ONLINE>> This is just a sample. For a complete program listing, go to the park district’s website at ebparks.org. Ned MacKay writes about East Bay Regional Park District sites and activities. Email him at nedmackay@comcast.net.

With Mount Diablo behind them, a flock of wild turkeys appears in a field off Tesla Road in Livermore. People can find out more about turkeys during a program Saturday at Sunol Regional Wilderness in southern Alameda County.

JIM STEVENS — STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

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