Ardenwood and Quarry Lakes Payment Changes
- East Bay Regional Park District said Ardenwood Historic Farm will go cashless on April 29, joining Quarry Lakes, which already requires card or tap-to-pay. - The district said five more parks are switching April 29, with a 30-day grace period; Quarry Lakes charges $5 parking and Ardenwood parking stays free. - The shift expands a districtwide cashless rollout at fee sites before summer crowds. (ebparks.org)
Ardenwood Historic Farm in Fremont will stop taking cash on April 29, bringing the site into the East Bay Regional Park District’s wider cashless rollout. (ebparks.org) Quarry Lakes Regional Recreation Area in Fremont is already cashless, with the park website saying credit card and tap-to-pay are accepted at the kiosk. (ebparks.org) The district said the April 29 change covers five parks: Ardenwood, Cull Canyon Regional Recreation Area, Don Castro Regional Recreation Area, Castlerock Pool Complex and Temescal Regional Recreation Area. (ebparks.org) Park officials said a 30-day grace period will follow the April 29 launch as visitors adjust to paying on site without cash. (ebparks.org) At affected parks, the district said visitors will pay applicable fees such as parking, boating and daily fishing permits with major credit cards or tap-to-pay methods. (ebparks.org) The practical difference between the two Fremont parks is that Quarry Lakes charges for parking, while Ardenwood’s park page still lists parking as free and separate entry fees for admission. (ebparks.org 1) (ebparks.org 2) Quarry Lakes lists parking at $5 per vehicle, $5 per trailered vehicle and $25 per bus, plus swim-beach fees of $5 for adults ages 18 to 61 and $3 for children, seniors and disabled visitors. (ebparks.org) Ardenwood’s park page says it accepts cash, Visa, MasterCard and Discover today, but the district’s April 27 announcement says Ardenwood moves into the cashless system two days later. (ebparks.org 1) (ebparks.org 2) The district said Roberts Regional Recreation Area, Crown Memorial State Beach and Quarry Lakes had already gone cashless in earlier phases. (ebparks.org) East Bay Regional Park District said 23 parks charge user fees, generating $5.7 million a year, or about 2% of its operating budget. (ebparks.org) For visitors who still want to pay in cash, the district pointed to an annual Regional Parks Foundation membership, which includes free parking at regional parks that charge for it. (ebparks.org)
