Congresswoman Simon Secures Critical Funding for East Bay Regional Park District to Improve Martin Luther King Jr. Regional Shoreline

OAKLAND, CA - Congresswoman Lateefah Simon (D-CA-12) recently secured a $1,092,000 Community Project Funding (CPF) Grant for the East Bay Regional Park District to improve the Martin Luther King Jr. Regional Shoreline. This federal funding will help enhance water quality in the San Leandro and San Francisco Bays and improve community access to the shoreline. Last Friday, she toured the project site and discussed the planned improvements.

This project funding will go towards implementing green infrastructure to enhance water qualities, helping to reduce pollutants, sedimentation, and nutrient runoff into the San Leandro and San Francisco Bays, create new opportunities for the East Oakland community to access the shoreline, advance climate resilience goals and ensure everyone can benefit from the shoreline for years to come, and connect more people to green spaces.

This Community Project Funding (CPF) is a part of the $11.2 million dollars that Congresswoman Simon secured for 15 projects across the East Bay. Each fiscal year, members of Congress can submit Community Project Funding requests for consideration with the House Committee on Appropriations. You can read about the 15 projects that Congresswoman Simon secured funding for in her first year here.

"In my first term in Congress, I am proud to have secured over $11 million dollars in Community Project Funding for our district, including over $1 million to enhance and improve the Martin Luther King Jr. Regional Shoreline, which is a refuge for people and wildlife alike." said Congresswoman Simon. "Everyone deserves access to clean, healthy, and accessible parks and greenspace. I look forward to seeing the health, recreational, and environmental benefits of this project, and I will be working with the East Bay Regional Park District to ensure this project is efficiently carried out for all who call the East Bay home."

"On behalf of the East Bay Regional Park District, we thank Representative Simon for securing funding to advance the Martin Luther King Jr. Regional Shoreline Public Access Project in East Oakland," shared Director Luana España. "This is a transformative initiative aimed at enhancing public access to green spaces, improving water quality and restoring local ecosystems. By expanding access to sustainable, safe recreational spaces and improving water quality, the project addresses historical inequities in the community and supports the physical and mental well-being of residents."

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