Date: 2010-05-18
Speaker: GEORGE MILLER (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: California

Mr. Speaker. I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker. as a lifelong citizen of Contra Costa County in the East Bay of the San Francisco Bay area. I have witnessed firsthand the East Bay Regional Park Districts steady drive to protect open spaces. benefiting millions of East Bay residents over several generations. The East Bay Regional Park District is today the largest regional park agency in the country. Over the last 75 years. they have preserved nearly 100.000 acres of parkland. established 65 regional parks. and built over 1.100 miles of trails. Almost every weekend. I visit the East Bay Regional Parks on one of their trails. one of the regional park systems. to walk with my family and enjoy the outdoors in the parks. Generally it is the Briones Regional Park that is near my home. I commend the East Bay Regional Park District and all of the various board members throughout the last 75 years on not only reaching this milestone. but the vision that they conceptualized many. many years ago to provide this incredible asset to the residents of the San Francisco Bay area. specifically to the East Bay of San Francisco Bay. I rise in strong support of this resolution commending the 75th anniversary of the East Bay Regional Park District. I want to thank Chairman RAHALL. Chairman GRIJALVA. Chairwoman BORDALLO. and Ranking Member BISHOP for their work to bring this resolution to the floor. As a resident of this area. and very often talking to my neighbors and to people I represent in this area. the pride that our area has in the East Bay Regional Parks. the support that the citizens of this region have given the park district over the last 75 years is testament to a wellrun system of parks throughout our area. of recreational facilities. of trails. of support for families with children. for people who ride horses. people who ride bikes. people who run. people who walk. and accommodating the open spaces and historical and cultural uses of the areas within the boundaries of the East Bay Regional Parks in Alameda and Contra Costa counties. I dont represent this area alone. I share the representation of the park district with Congresswoman BARBARA LEE. Congressman PETE STARK. Congressman JOHN GARAMENDI and Congressman JERRY MCNERNEY. and I know all of them share the pride that I do in the East Bay Regional Park System. As I stated earlier. the vision that they have presented to the public and the support that it has received. and the cooperation they have received from farmers. from ranchers. from cities. from the counties. has just been an incredible model for other areas that have to deal with the issues of preserving open space and the competing uses of that space by various governmental jurisdictions and private landowners. I also want to pay tribute to the grand old man in implementing this plan and working with all of the various landowners and the local jurisdictions and procuring these lands at a fair price to the taxpayers of our region. and that is Hewlett Hornbeck. who for so many years brought about the implementation of that vision of the board of directors of the regional parks. I reserve the balance of my time.