Brickyard Cove

Brickyard Cove is a newly developed public park located along the Berkeley shoreline in California. Opened in March 2022, it is part of the larger McLaughlin Eastshore State Park, which extends 8.5 miles along the bay shoreline from the Bay Bridge to Richmond.

The park offers visitors sweeping views of the San Francisco Bay, including iconic landmarks such as the Golden Gate Bridge, Bay Bridge, Mount Tamalpais, and the San Francisco skyline. Its terrain features a gently rising hill surrounded by shallow open water, tidal mudflats, and a sand beach.

Brickyard Cove's name comes from the old bricks that litter the eastern edge and area around the cove, though interestingly, the site was never associated with brick manufacturing. The park was created through extensive redevelopment efforts, transforming what was once a 53-foot-high pile of excavated dirt and debris into a recreational amenity with enhanced natural habitat.

The park provides a mix of wildlife habitat and spaces for public enjoyment. Native plants have been seeded throughout the area, including California brome, blue wild rye, fescue varieties, California poppies, lupine, and yarrow. The cove itself serves as a prime bird habitat, with the piped outfall of Strawberry Creek located at its northwest corner.

Brickyard Cove is designed to be accessible to visitors, with walking paths and connections to the San Francisco Bay Trail. The park's development also included measures to mitigate sea-level rise, with the shoreline raised and stabilized to withstand the effects of changing climate.