ABOUT
TRAC Trails
for Richmond Action Committee "Never
doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed citizens can
change the world.
Indeed, it's the only thing that ever has." -
Margaret Mead
TRAC, the Trails for Richmond Action Committee was formed July 1999 with its Mission to: 1. Complete the San Francisco Bay Trail in Richmond,
assuring that it is linked to public parks and population centers
and maintained in perpetuity and 2. Promote use and enjoyment of the Bay Trail
by all who live and work in Richmond and as a visitor attraction
to showcase the City of Richmond’s shoreline.
When
TRAC was founded, Richmond had only 12 miles of San Francisco
Bay Trail fragments. This has burgeoned to over 31 miles in 13
years thanks primarily to the City of Richmond and East Bay Regional
Park District with strong support from the Association of Bay
Area Governments (ABAG) Bay Trail Project, the Bay Conservation
and Development Commission (BCDC) and the California Coastal
Conservancy. TRAC
has acquired $7.2 million in grant funds used by the City of
Richmond to close gaps in the Bay Trail! Stimulated
by TRAC’s Interpretive Subcommittee, over 40 new interpretive
and way finding exhibits have mushroomed to enrich the Bay Trail
experience.
TRAC is working with the City of Richmond, East Bay
Regional Park District and the private sector to close the 10.8
miles of gaps remaining in Richmond’s planned Bay Trail. The
Richmond Bay Trail Network of supporters is kept informed about Bay
Trail events and progress and occasionally asked for emails to support
completing the Bay Trail in Richmond. There is no cost to join the Richmond
Bay Trail Network - just email
us!
TRAC has received the Clearwater Award by the Waterfront
Center in Washington, D.C., the American Lung Association Clean Air Award,
the City of Richmond Community Services Award and the Association of Bay
Area Governments Award For Service to Local Government and Dedication to
the San Francisco Bay Trail. TRAC's website, created and maintained by
David Moore of Sincere
Design, received the 2008 California Trails and Greenways Website Award.
• TRAC
Chair Bruce Beyaert received the Bay
Area 2010 Cox Conserves Hero award, the Bob Walker
Bay Area Open Space Award from the Bay Area Open Space
Council, is a Director for ABAG’s Bay Trail
Project and a member of the Advisory Committee to
EBRPD’s Board of Directors, served nine years
on the Board of Directors of Save the Bay and was Chevron’s
Manager of Environmental Planning worldwide • TRAC Vice Chair Nancy
Strauch, who was BCDC’s Chief of Permits and President
of Save The Bay’s Board of Directors, brings real estate
and property management skills to Bay Trail projects. • Donald
Bastin, who chairs TRAC’s Interpretive Subcommittee,
is former Director of the Richmond Museum of History and authored
the Richmond book in the Images of America series.
• Bruce
Brubaker is an architect experienced in project planning
with The Planning Center/Design, Community & Environment. • Jerry Rasmussen was
Principal Planner in Richmond’s Planning Department and
is a member of the Countywide Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan Advisory
Committee. • Whitney
Dotson was elected to the Board of Directors of East
Bay Regional Park District and serves as Chairman of the North
Richmond Shoreline Open Space Alliance. He is a
public health professional who is a passionate believer in public
access to the shoreline for recreational and health benefits.
