While most of the nation has sizzled with record high temperatures so far this summer, Alameda, true to its normal pattern, has remained relatively mild.
But with August upon us and September and October approaching, some hot days lie ahead.
What better way to cool off and enjoy a day at the beach than to stay right here at home on the Island?
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“I’m always kind of surprised when people say they are driving several hours to the ocean to let their children play in the sand,” said one Alameda mother. “We forget we have our own jewel of a beach right in our own backyard.”
Crown Memorial State Beach is that gem in our midst which many of us only whiz past driving to and from the South Shore Shopping Center. Officially located at Eighth Street and Otis Drive, it is 2.5 miles of beach with sand dunes that border a bicycle trail.
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Named in memory of State Assemblyman Robert W. Crown, who championed the preservation of the area as a public parkland, it has a rich history. From the 1880s until the beginning of World War II the beach was a popular destination. People from throughout the region traveled to enjoy its bathing spas, concerts, balloon rides, carnival attractions, prize fights and baseball games.
Neptune Beach, as it was known in 1917, or the “Coney Island of the West,” closed in 1939.
By 1982 the beach had dangerously eroded from wind and water action and had to be restored with sand from San Francisco Bay, pumped ashore by pipeline from a barge.
Today the east end of the park is the site of the Elsie Roemer Bird Sanctuary, home to aquatic birds and other salt marsh creatures. At the other end of the park is Crab Cove, a protected marine reserve.
The Crab Cove Visitor Center, operated by the East Bay Regional Park District, sits at 1252 McKay Ave. It offers interactive programs for people of all ages, including several popular classes for children. Visitors can explore the bay and its creatures up close. Guided group tours can be arranged in advance.
Crown Memorial State Beach is open from 5 a.m. until 10 p.m. unless otherwise posted. There is no camping or motorized boating, although kayaks, sailboards and car-top inflatables are permitted.
It continues to be a magnet for windsurfers and kiteboarders. Rental equipment and lessons are available on spring weekends and during the summer. A bathhouse with changing rooms is on site. There are no lifeguards at this beach.
Group picnic reservations can be made in advance by calling 1-888-EBPARKS. There is a parking fee of $5 per vehicle when the lot is attended. Other rates apply to trailers and buses.
A fee of $2 per dog is charged, although guide and service dogs enter free. Dogs must be on leash at all times and are only permitted on the grass and pathways. No dogs are allowed on the beach itself. There is a large fenced dog park next door to the park, however.
Fishing is allowed from shore, but is subject to regulations of the State Fish and Game Department. To fish you must be 16 and have a California state fishing license.
