third ave lower launch work

[le noun]

Is Da Sherman Island next ?

Sherman is already pretty nice. :-)

Agreed.

[g00mbs]

Daily Journal:

http://www.smdailyjournal.com/articles/ ... 36013.html


Where the wind picks up: Foster City invests in, reopens popular kiteboarding park
January 03, 2015, 05:00 AM By Samantha Weigel Daily Journal

Paul Thai wraps up the day kiteboarding off the Foster City Bayshore near the newly refinished East Third Avenue Park.


The new park has a paved parking lot and other nice new features, it is a far cry from the previous conditions.


Major renovations at one of the Bay Area’s premier windsurfing and kiteboarding parks will culminate with the grand reopening ceremony at the East Third Avenue Park in Foster City Monday.
After a three-year collaboration between the windsurfing community and city staff combined with contributions from national, local and nonprofit agencies, the revamp now offers a safer and more accessible park for all to enjoy.
Approximately $861,000 went toward renovations such as new restrooms, rinse stations, synthetic turf areas, a drinking fountain, parking lot restriping, an improved drainage system and new signs.
Mandi Browning, a former professional synchronized swimmer turned kiteboarder and Los Altos resident, said the site offers some of the best sporting conditions around and was prompted to contact the city when she saw the poor conditions of the park.
“When the wind season is going on, it provides probably the most consistent wind you’re going to find Bay Area wide for us to kite probably more frequently throughout the entire season,” Browning said. “I noticed how run-down it was with all the moldy carpet and debris and just how unkempt it was. There were children running around with broken glass, it’s really something that just broke my heart.”
Where aged carpets once lined the ground between the Bay and the neighboring Mariners Point Golf Center, the park now boasts a resurfaced parking lot and synthetic field. Instead of a single portable toilet, brand-new solar-powered toilets are now accessible to the public, said Jennifer Liu, recreation manager with the city’s Parks and Recreation Department.
“If you were to look at before and after photos, for example, the site was really not representative of what we would say is characteristic of our park system,” Liu said. “[We’re] focusing on a couple things, one of which is just the community out there that’s just through and through been there for years, really wanted to serve those guys, the kiteboarders, and also recognize that … a lot of people are accessing the Bay Trail from that location. So it’s a pretty multi-use site.”
For 13 years, the city has contracted with various concessionaires to provide lessons and equipment rental. Liu and Browning said the improvements are also of financial value to Foster City as windsurfers and kiteboarders are drawn to the area.
“It’s just a real versatile location for people that travel from all over that utilize that site to kiteboard. So there is economic value that’s associated with the site,” Liu said. “We really genuinely wanted to respond to the community and address the need out there.”
Councilman Gary Pollard agreed adding revamping the destination spot helps keep Foster City on the map.
“People were using it from all over the world regardless of what it looked like and now that we realize how valuable it is, we’ve invested money in it to make it a world-class park,” Pollard said. “I think it was money well spent to keep the park system that our residents have come to enjoy at its highest level.”
While the ribbon cutting ceremony is the culmination of the work completed at the East Third Avenue Park, Foster City is also in the midst of creating two new additions known as Werder and Destination parks. Both along the Bayfront, Liu said the city anticipates opening the new parks in May or June of 2015.
“In our minds, we kind of look at it as a package of three parks that really enhance access to the Bay Trail,” Liu said. “We’re all about facilitating recreational access, that’s the goal.”
The city’s commitment to encouraging visitors to frequent the Bay Trail helped land it a $60,000 grant from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation for improvements to the kiteboarding park. Another $175,602 was awarded by the nonprofit the Smart Family Foundation and the remaining $625,000 came from the city, Liu said.
Browning said she’s thrilled the city was responsive in addressing the windsurfing and kiteboarding community’s concerns and that everyone will have the opportunity for a more enjoyable experience at the park.
“It’s a pretty special place that’s become very near and dear to my heart,” Browning said. “It’s such an awesome place and it’s been very encouraging and uplifting for me and the main thing is that everybody’s allowed to be out there. Everybody gets a chance to play and have fun and grow and learn and that’s the most important part.”

The ribbon cutting ceremony and grand reopening of East Third Avenue Park is 4 p.m. Monday, Jan. 5. For more information visit www.fostercity.org.

samantha@smdailyjournal.com
(650) 344-5200 ext. 106

[le noun]

Sweet. Now we just need the same to be done at the upper launch and then get a mile long jetty pointing NNE for buttery flat water.

[drroc]

This is 3rd upper launch after the big rain storms. Not looking too goo.

[kitet]

This is 3rd upper launch after the big rain storms. Not looking too goo.

Yes, I think if nothing is done very soon, the upper launch will be gone this season or in another year or so.

[etxxz]

rode by the other day (before inauguration) it so sweet. good job and thanks to those that made it happen for the rest of us!

This is 3rd upper launch after the big rain storms. Not looking too goo.

duuuude .......its gone!

Is Da Sherman Island next ?

Sherman is already pretty nice. :-)

Agreed.

don't mess with the salsa. this topic has been beat to death. any site improvements will take away from the sherman experience. even the smelly pit toilets and lack of shower is why we go there and live it up together. its what makes that community work. Buy a winnebago if want to camp like princess barbie.

[Sonny]

Yes, I do feel like a princess barbie in my Winnebago and that is the way I want it. :-)

[etxxz]

lol. exactly!

[sloughslut]

even the smelly pit toilets and lack of shower is why we go there and live it up together.

I think this should say why you go there not we