2024 Family Fun Ride with Alameda Friends of the Parks

Come join Alameda Friends of the Parks (AFOTP) and our 2024 sponsors—Alameda Recreation and Park Department ( ARPD ), Rhythm & Moves, and Alameda Bicycle—for our annual Family Fun Ride on Saturday, September 14.  Last year we had over 200 riders and we’re expecting as many, if not more, this year!

The 7-mile ride begins at Washington Park and goes along Shoreline Drive , over the Bay Farm Island Bridge to the Bill Osborn Model Airplane Field, and then returns on the same route to Washington Park. It’s a fantastic opportunity to gather with family, friends and the community, get some exercise and help support Alameda parks!  After the ride, join us for music, crafts, games, and snacks.

As many may not know much about AFOTP , I thought I would share who we are and why I hope you will join us in this fun event. I am a lifelong Alameda resident, former ARPD park director and now President of AFOTP. As a youth I spent most of my free time at Godfrey Park on Bay Farm Island . I had loads of fun while getting plenty of exercise and learning meaningful life skills. Other than my family and teachers, the parks had the most influence on my life. This is why I am passionate about our parks and AFOTP.

AFOTP is a 501c3 nonprofit organization established in 1982. Our mission is to promote and support parks, recreation, and wellness in Alameda. AFOTP works closely with ARPD and other recreation and wellness organizations in our community to find opportunities to collaborate and carry out our mission.

In just the past five years, AFOTP has provided $300,000 in funding to our community. We have funded annual playground renovations, purchasing and installation of exercise equipment, as well as multiple ARPD programs, including the Starlight Movies in the Park series, Teen Haunted House, Spring Shindig, and the Annual Sandcastle Contest. We also have provided funding for scholarships for children to participate in camps and other ARPD programming. Finally, as wellness is another key tenant of our mission, AFOTP provides funding to food and shelter organizations in town.

We are blessed as Alamedans to have such an amazing recreation and park system. ARPD offers programs and events for residents from toddlers to 100-year-olds. Parks and recreation were an early focus for our city. In fact, Alameda has the third-oldest recreation and parks department in California, established in 1908. We have 30 city parks and more than 40 total recreation facilities run by ARPD. In addition, Alameda has approximately 3 miles of beach shoreline, including Crown Memorial State Beach managed by East Bay Regional Park District . What is unique to Alameda is that almost every resident lives within a 10-minute walk to a park. Personally, I live within a 7-minute walk to two Alameda parks.

While not scientific by any means, I often survey longtime Alamedans, asking, “What are the top three reasons you love our city?” And I ask new residents, “What are the top three reasons you moved to Alameda?” While not always the top answer, everyone lists our parks, recreation opportunities, or open space as one of those reasons. Pretty amazing!

If you would like to have family fun while supporting our parks, please register online for our 2024 Family Fun Ride.

If you are not able to make it to the ride, we always appreciate donations of any size so we can continue to carry forth our mission to support parks, recreation, and wellness in our Alameda community. It’s easy to donate online .

Hope to see you on September 14!

Meanwhile, here are links to more information on our terrific sponsors:

• ARPD : www.alamedaca.gov/Departments/Recreation-Parks .
• Rhythm & Moves : www.rhythmandmoves.com .
• Alameda Bicycle : www.alamedabicycle.com .

Joe Restagno
President, Alameda Friends of the Parks

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