Voter Poll Shows Promise — and Peril — for East Bay Parks Tax Measure

The East Bay Regional Park District Board convened its first-ever meeting at Camp Arroyo in Livermore on Aug. 18, receiving a voter survey that showed strong favorability but a razor-thin margin for a potential tax measure, a foundation strategic plan aiming to double philanthropic contributions by 2030, and an early FY2027 budget that eliminates two executive positions to fund frontline park workers. Residents packed public comment with sharp critiques of a proposed mountain bike trail in Wildcat Canyon and competing demands for state funding.

• Voter survey finds 73% conceptual support for a parks tax measure, but support drops near the two-thirds threshold at specific dollar amounts

• FY2027 budget eliminates two executive positions, redirects $800K to four frontline park worker roles

• Parks Foundation unveils plan to become financially self-sufficient, targeting $10M in annual contributions by 2030

• Residents warn proposed Wildcat Canyon flow trail threatens trout habitat, exposes district to injury lawsuits

• Oakport Project leaders say district's $125M Golden Gate Fields request is crowding out shoreline restoration funding

• Consent calendar approved 5-0, including delayed Hayward Marsh restoration bolstered by $5M EPA grant

The basics: FM3 Research polled registered voters across Alameda and Contra Costa counties in late February and early March 2026 to gauge appetite for a potential parks tax measure the board is eyeing for the November 2028 presidential ballot.