About Point Isabel

Since 1987 Point Isabel Regional Shoreline has been maintained by the East Bay Regional Park District (EBRPD) as a mixed-use, open space area where responsible owners may bring their dogs to run off-leash.

Directions to Point Isabel

From I-80 or I-580 in Richmond, California, take Central Ave west to Point Isabel, adjacent to the U.S. Postal Service Bulk Mail Center. There are two entrances: west end at Isabel Road; the east end at Rydin Road. Click here to see a map.

Park Rules

  1. Dog owners must always carry a leash.
  2. Dogs must be under voice control and within sight of their owners.
  3. Owners must clean up feces deposited by their dogs. Bags are provided in boxes at various locations in the park.
  4. Dogs showing aggressiveness towards people or other dogs must be leashed immediately.
  5. Owners must stop dogs from digging and must fill in any holes created by their dogs.
  6. Owners must prevent their dogs from going into the marsh at the east end of the park and from disturbing feeding birds at low tide.
  7. Dogs should be leashed in parking areas.


PIDO

Point Isabel Dog Owners and Friends (PIDO) is an organization which works with the park district to maintain this area as an off-leash dog area and to inform visitors of their responsibilities as users of this park to obey park rules.

PIDO membership is open to all who wish to support and protect Point Isabel as an open and natural place to walk and play with their dogs off-leash. The membership fee to belong to PIDO is $10. This money, plus funds from donations and shirt sales, help pay for the biodegradable bags provided jointly by PIDO and the park district, for a quarterly newsletter, and for brochures avaiable at the park.

Mudpuppy’s owners now keep the bag dispensers full of Mutt Mitts™. PIDO members sponsor monthly park cleanup days and you're invited to take part. As you have may have observed, Point Isabel is very heavily used—over one million visitors a year.

Donations to PIDO are always welcome, and are used to help cover the costs of the above items. PIDO is tax-exempt under the Internal Revenue Code 501 (c) [3]. Donors will receive a receipt for income tax purposes. A treasurer's report is available on request. Donations may be sent to the PIDO Treasurer, P.O. Box 8282, Berkeley, CA, 94707.

The Park

The park presently consists of approximately 21 acres all on the south side of the canal. The area across the bridge, known as "North Point Isabel," is owned by the State of California and managed by the EBRPD. Although dogs have been allowed to run off-leash there, it has not yet been officially designated as an off-leash area. It is imperative that visitors to North Point Isabel follow the EBRPD rules for an off-leash area. Because there is only one bag dispenser on the north side of the canal, owners should take bags with them when they cross the bridge.

Permanent restrooms and a drinking fountain are located on the west side of the park. Also in that location is an emergency telephone, from which dialing 911 will connect with the Park Police. They can assist in contacting AAA for anyone who accidentally locks her/his keys in the car. Park Police can also be reached at 881-1833.

Portable restrooms are located near the east parking lot. All restrooms are disabled accessible, as are the main paths within Point Isabel. A hose for rinsing mud off dogs is also located at the eastern end of the park.

The bulletin board at the west end of the park is for PIDO business. Commercial signs are not to be posted. Free pet-event announcements, lost and found notices, and information of interest to all park users may also be posted. Such notices must be small, must include the date of posting, and must be posted only on the bulletin boards.

PLEASE JOIN US IN MAINTAINING POINT ISABEL AS AN OFF-LEASH DOG AREA!

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Frequently Asked Questions About the Park