Shimada Friendship Park

Access Information

Park Location:
Shimada Friendship Park is located at the foot (southern end) of Marina Bay Parkway in the City of Richmond.

Public Transit Access:
Transit access is provided by AC Transit, #63 bus.

Views of the Park

Click on the following pictures to see a larger version.

Upon arriving at the park, the visitor is greeted by an expanse of neatly manicured grass interrupted by a series of concrete walkways.
Here and there throughout the park are picnic tables with enough space between them to afford a small group a sense of privacy. As can be seen, this particular one provides wheelchair access as well.

Flowers in the form of ground cover adorn the park's flower beds.

As is mentioned elsewhere, the park is dedicated to the City of Richmond's sister city of Shimada, Japan. An artful arangement of used building materials from the shipyards that were here during WW-2 have been placed in the park to surround the plaque commemorating the dedication of the park.

On the occasional clear day on the bay, the visitor to the park is treated to a magnificant view of San Francisco's skyline.

The park's neighbors enjoy year round access by just stepping out of their homes. What a life.


Park Description

The park is a modest but beautifully landscaped open space bordering the bay and providing opportunities for picnics, fishing and trail access to Point Isabel Regional Shoreline Park (to the south) and to Miller Knox Regional Shoreline Park (and Keller Beach) to the north.

The park is named for Richmond's sister city, Shimada, Japan.

There are no fees for parking, or picnicing at the park.


Trails starting from the Park

Click on the word "trail" below to see highlights of the trail being discussed.

Two trails leave the park to enter the San Francisco Bay Trails system. Looking to the east from the park is Albany Hill and the high-rise apartment buildings on Highway 80. This trail follows the bay, crosses Meeker Creek and connects with Point Isabel Regional Shoreline Park (to the south). When the pictures were taken, the trail was in the process of being completed. As you will see, there was a lot of work left to do.

At this writing, the trail to Point Isabel has been completed and is a delight for bicycle riders. A new set of pictures will be added soon to update the work that has been done.

The other trail leaves the park to the north (across Marina Bay Parkway) and follows a system of urban paths (sidewalks), passing the Richmond Yacht Harbor and ending at Miller Knox Regional Shoreline Park (and Keller Beach) to the north. You will find the start of the trail in the center of the above picture just to the left of the houses. It proceeds up and to the left going toward the boats in the harbor at the extreme left. There is a Bay Trails sign at the entrance.


Last Modified: 1/2/96 jdw