Roberts Regional Recreation Area

This 87-acre area is a popular picnic spot for families and groups. In a grove of fragrant second-growth redwood trees off Skyline Boulevard in Oakland, it is known for its lush atmosphere. Between 1840 and 1860, the original grove was logged to meet the needs of a growing population in the Bay Area.
 

Roberts became the first park to be "adopted" by local industry in the two-county Area Park Districts early in 1979. An ongoing relationship was formed with Kaiser Aluminum & Chemical Corporation, tapping the multinational, Oakland-based company's financial and human capital to ensure that this iconic urban parkland continues to operate.
 

After California voters voted to reform the state's tax structure, the Adopt A Park program was developed in July 1978, resulting in budget cutbacks for special districts and public entities such as EBRPD that were largely dependent on property taxes for service. Contact the Public Relations Department at 1-888-EBPARKS (1-888-327-2757) or write to: East Bay Regional Park District, P.O. Box 5381, Oakland, CA 94605-0381, Attn: Public Affairs Department for more information about how to help the District manage its existing parklands and facilities.

In 1952, Roberts Regional Recreation Area opened for public recreation and pleasure. The park has been named in honor of Thomas J. "Tommy" Roberts, who had served as secretary to the board of directors of the East Bay Regional Park District for 24 years at the time. Until his death in 1958 at age 95, he continued to serve on the board.
 

There is a baseball field, playfields, and a sand volleyball court in the municipal leisure area of Roberts (all available on a first-come, first-served basis). A new "Barrier Free" wheelchair-accessible play area for children is now housed in Roberts Park.

It has proven to be a popular stop for visitors since the Roberts entrance and parking area are in a grove of redwoods. For tourists who can not walk a long distance or have forgotten to pack their chosen hiking shoes, this is the best access to redwoods. For a moment, drop by... you'll want to linger longer.
 

It was thought that the famous "landmark trees" were located in or near Roberts Park; their location is marked by state historic plaque #962 near the picnic area of Madrone. These were two giant redwoods used by sailors as navigational aids, submerged in the bay between Alcatraz Island and San Francisco, to escape the treacherous Blossom Rock. The Royal Navy's Captain F. Beechey noted in his log (1826) that one should line up the northern tip of Yerba Buena Island with "two trees...south of Palos Colorados...too conspicuous to be overlooked." in order to miss the rock. The distance to these trees from the sailors' ships was 16 miles, which attests to their height. Historical records show that the redwoods were up to 20 feet or more in diameter in this area.
 

By entering Redwood Regional Park at the Redwood Gate entrance, two miles east of Skyline Boulevard on Redwood Lane, another redwood grove can be reached. Drop your vehicle in the parking area and walk through the shady canyon along Stream Trail.