Paid parking coming to Ardenwood, Quarry Lakes
- East Bay Regional Park District began cashless fee collection Wednesday at Ardenwood Historic Farm, adding Fremont’s farm site to a broader systemwide payment change. - Quarry Lakes was already cashless under a pilot that started in October 2024; Ardenwood now drops cash and keeps its $4 to $6 admission. - The district says 23 fee-charging parks bring in $5.7 million a year, about 2% of its operating budget. (ebparks.org)
Ardenwood Historic Farm stopped taking cash on Wednesday as the East Bay Regional Park District expanded cashless fee collection to five more parks. (ebparks.org) The change took effect April 29, 2026, and the district said visitors can pay with major credit cards and tap-to-pay methods for on-site user fees. The rollout includes a 30-day grace period. (ebparks.org) At Ardenwood in Fremont, the shift changes how visitors pay more than what they pay. The park page now says, “Starting April 29th, Ardenwood is going Cashless,” while listing parking at no charge and regular admission at $4 to $6 depending on day and season. (ebparks.org) Quarry Lakes, also in Fremont, is not newly charging for parking. Its park page already lists $5 parking per vehicle and says the site is cashless, with credit card and tap-to-pay accepted at the kiosk. (ebparks.org) That follows a pilot at Quarry Lakes and Roberts Regional Recreation Area that began in October 2024 and was extended through December 31, 2025. During that pilot, cash was not accepted. (ebparks.org) The district said Ardenwood, Cull Canyon, Don Castro, Castlerock Pool, and Temescal joined Roberts and Quarry Lakes in cashless operations as it heads into the summer season. Crown Memorial State Beach in Alameda is also already cashless. (ebparks.org) Park officials said the switch is meant to improve operational efficiency, and they said the district plans to become cashless at all facilities that have the infrastructure to do it. (ebparks.org) The district said 23 regional parks charge user fees and together generate $5.7 million a year, equal to 2% of the operating budget. It said those fees help offset the cost of maintaining safe public access. (ebparks.org) Visitors who still want to avoid paying at the gate can buy a Regional Parks Foundation membership, which includes unlimited day-use parking and free admission to Ardenwood on non-event days. Prices start at $60 for an individual regular membership and $45 for qualifying special-access members. (regionalparksfoundation.org) (ebparks.org) For Fremont visitors, the practical takeaway is narrower than the headlines: Ardenwood now goes cashless, while Quarry Lakes was already there. The district is using the same model at more parks before the busiest months arrive. (ebparks.org 1) (ebparks.org 2) (ebparks.org 3)
