Ardenwood, Quarry Lakes parking fees to change
- East Bay Regional Park District began cashless fee collection Wednesday at Ardenwood Historic Farm in Fremont, adding it to a broader rollout at five parks. - Quarry Lakes was already cashless, but Ardenwood now joins it with card and tap-to-pay only, while a 30-day grace period starts April 29. - The district says user fees bring in $5.7 million a year across 23 parks, about 2% of its budget. (ebparks.org)
Ardenwood Historic Farm in Fremont switched to cashless admission on Wednesday, joining Quarry Lakes Regional Recreation Area in a wider East Bay parks payment shift. (ebparks.org) The East Bay Regional Park District said the new rules took effect April 29, 2026, at five additional parks: Ardenwood, Cull Canyon, Don Castro, Castlerock Pool Complex and Temescal. Visitors now pay applicable fees with major credit cards or tap-to-pay instead of cash. (ebparks.org) Quarry Lakes in Fremont had already gone cashless in recent years, and its park page now lists parking at $5 per vehicle, $5 per trailered vehicle and card or tap-to-pay at the kiosk. The same page lists beach access at $5 for adults 18 to 61 and $3 for children, seniors and disabled visitors. (ebparks.org 1) (ebparks.org 2) At Ardenwood, the change is about admission, not parking. The park page still lists parking as “No Fee,” while entry fees range from $4 to $6 on regular days depending on the day of week and age, with higher prices for special events. (ebparks.org) That distinction is the part Fremont visitors need to know now: Quarry Lakes charges for parking and recreation, while Ardenwood remains free to park but no longer takes cash for entry. Ardenwood’s own April program flyer still advertised “Free Parking” for a special event this month. (ebparks.org 1) (ebparks.org 2) The district said it added a 30-day grace period as the new system starts ahead of the summer rush. It said the cashless model is meant to improve operations and will expand over time to facilities that have the equipment for it. (ebparks.org) Park officials also tied the fees to upkeep. The district said only 23 regional parks charge user fees, and those fees generate $5.7 million a year, or about 2% of the agency’s operating budget. (ebparks.org) Visitors who still want to avoid paying at the gate can buy a Regional Parks Foundation membership, which includes free day-use parking at East Bay Regional Park District parks and free Ardenwood admission on non-event days. The foundation says members also get free swimming during swim season. (regionalparksfoundation.org) (ebparks.org) For Fremont parkgoers, the practical change starts with the wallet: bring a card or phone to Ardenwood now, and expect the same at Quarry Lakes. The district is signaling that cash lanes are disappearing across more of its parks. (ebparks.org)
