Park Entry Fees Changing at Ardenwood
- The East Bay Regional Park District switched Ardenwood Historic Farm to cashless entry Wednesday, expanding card-and-tap payments to five more parks. - Ardenwood now accepts major credit cards and tap-to-pay starting April 29, while Quarry Lakes had already been operating cashless under an earlier pilot. - The district says 23 fee-charging parks bring in $5.7 million a year and more sites will follow. (ebparks.org)
Ardenwood Historic Farm in Fremont switched to cashless entry on Wednesday as the East Bay Regional Park District expanded the policy to five more parks. (ebparks.org) The change took effect April 29, 2026, and the district said a 30-day grace period will help visitors adjust. Ardenwood joins Cull Canyon, Don Castro, Castlerock Pool Complex and Temescal in the latest round. (ebparks.org) Under the new setup, visitors pay on-site fees with major credit cards or tap-to-pay methods instead of cash. The district said the policy covers charges such as parking, boating and daily fishing permits where those fees apply. (ebparks.org) At Ardenwood, parking remains free, but admission is not. The park page says adults pay $4 on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Saturdays during the historic season, and $6 on Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays, with lower prices for seniors and children. (ebparks.org) Ardenwood’s website now says, “Starting April 29th, Ardenwood is going Cashless,” replacing its earlier note that listed cash among accepted payment methods. The farm is open Tuesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. (ebparks.org) Quarry Lakes Regional Recreation Area, also in Fremont, was already cashless before this week’s expansion. Its park page says the site accepts credit card and tap-to-pay at the kiosk for fees including $5 vehicle parking and beach access charges. (ebparks.org 1) (ebparks.org 2) The district said the policy is meant to improve operational efficiency ahead of the summer rush. It added that more parks will move to cashless payment over time if they have the equipment to support it. (ebparks.org) For visitors who still want to pay in cash, the district pointed to another route: an annual Regional Parks Foundation membership that includes free parking at all regional parks. The agency said 23 parks charge user fees, generating $5.7 million a year, or about 2% of its operating budget. (ebparks.org)
