The sphere institute's BAY rise park project (the project) is the transformation of a 9.4-acre state parcel at 410 airport boulevard, burlingame into a new public park and tidal marsh habitat

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 9 awarded a $3,000,000 Project Grant to The Sphere Institute for their Bay Rise Park Project under the Geographic Programs - San Francisco Bay Water Quality Improvement Fund (CFDA 66.126). This grant supports the transformation of a 9.4-acre state parcel in Burlingame, California into a new public park and tidal marsh habitat, as part of the larger $6,000,000 Bay Rise Park project. Key activities include completing construction drawings, planning consultations for permits and regulatory approval, and initial project implementation and construction. The Sphere Institute is partnering with the San Mateo Resource Conservation District to manage the general contractor for this effort. Expected outcomes include restoring approximately 5 acres of tidal marsh, transition zone, and upland habitats, providing improved environmental conditions, habitat for local wildlife, and accessible recreational and educational amenities for the public.

The overall project, located on reclaimed land on the edge of SAN francisco BAY, will restore tidal wetlands and transition-zone habitats absent from the burlingame shoreline, provide educational and recreational amenities, improve the BAY trail, and demonstrate how green infrastructure can protect the bayfront. The project team will collaborate with the SAN mateo county flood and sea-level rise resiliency district ('oneshoreline') to integrate the park design with their emerging regional solution for flood protection along the county shoreline. The grant supports construction drawings, planning consultation for permits and regulatory approval, and initial implementation/construction costs. This assistance agreement provides full federal funding in the amount of $3,000,000. Preaward costs are approved back to 6/1/2023.activities:to implement the SAN francisco estuary partnership comprehensive conservation and management plan (CCMP), the sphere institute's BAY rise park project will accomplish the following activities: complete construction drawings, planning consultation for permits and regulatory approval, and initial implementation/construction. These activities will support the overall larger BAY rise park public park and tidal marsh habitat project in burlingame.subrecipient:the sphere institute will be working with the SAN mateo resource conservation district as a project partner in helping to manage a general contractor to support the BAY rise park project.outcomes:anticipated deliverables include: completing the project design, securing building permits from the city of burlingame, achieving regulatory milestones, preparing a quality assurance project plan, continuing community outreach, beginning initial construction, and developing a long-term tidal marsh habitat restoration and monitoring plan and reporting requirements. Expected longer-term outcomes include: approximately 5 acres of restored tidal marsh, transition zone, and upland habitats park and restored, habitat complete and operational, providing improved environmental conditions, habitat for local wildlife, and accessible recreational and educational amenities for the public. The intended beneficiaries of this project are the communities and visitors who would visit BAY rise park in burlingame and the living resources of the SAN francisco BAY and its watersheds.