The Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge unveiled its new Flyway Trail and Viewing Area in October 2024, creating vital community connections and showcasing bay restoration efforts. The half-mile paved trail connects East Palo Alto and Menlo Park’s Belle Haven neighborhood to Bedwell Bayfront Park via a Meta-built footbridge, providing first-ever walking access to the bay for local residents. The project highlights ongoing wetland restoration work, featuring three distinct wetland types and efforts to reduce storm flooding. The trail’s opening celebration drew over 300 visitors and showcased bilingual interpretive signage with Spanish language QR codes, demonstrating the refuge’s commitment to serving diverse communities. This collaborative project between federal wildlife managers and local government exemplifies innovative approaches to combining public access, environmental education, and climate resilience. Jennifer Adams, our environmental justice senior program manager, comments that the trail “is definitely going to be a huge benefit for the community.”
Read about the new trail here.
Photo Credit: Bill O’Brian/USFWS
