Payment Changes Coming to Ardenwood and Quarry Lakes
- East Bay Regional Park District began cashless fee collection Wednesday at Ardenwood Historic Farm in Fremont; Quarry Lakes had already switched in a 2024 pilot. - The change starts April 29 with a 30-day grace period, and visitors must use credit cards or tap-to-pay for parking and other fees. - The district says 23 fee-charging parks generate $5.7 million yearly, about 2% of its operating budget. (ebparks.org)
Ardenwood Historic Farm in Fremont started taking only cashless payments on Wednesday, while nearby Quarry Lakes Regional Recreation Area was already on that system. (ebparks.org 1) (ebparks.org 2) The East Bay Regional Park District said the new round of changes took effect April 29, 2026, at five more parks, including Ardenwood. Visitors now pay applicable fees with major credit cards or tap-to-pay methods instead of cash. (ebparks.org) Those fees can include parking, boating and daily fishing permits, depending on the park. Quarry Lakes in Fremont joined the district’s cashless pilot in October 2024, and that pilot was extended through Dec. 31, 2025. (ebparks.org 1) (ebparks.org 2) Ardenwood is a special case in the district because it charges admission on non-event days, not just vehicle entry. The Regional Parks Foundation says its membership includes free admission to Ardenwood on non-event days and free parking at regional parks. (regionalparksfoundation.org) The district paired the April 29 launch with a 30-day grace period as it heads into the summer season. It told visitors to check each park’s webpage before arriving because payment rules are now park-specific during the broader transition. (ebparks.org) East Bay Parks said the switch is about operations as much as convenience. Of the district’s 23 parks that charge user fees, those fees bring in $5.7 million a year, or about 2% of the operating budget. (ebparks.org) The agency said it plans to move all facilities with the right infrastructure to cashless collection over time. For visitors heading to Ardenwood or Quarry Lakes this season, that means bringing a card, a phone wallet, or a membership pass instead of cash. (ebparks.org) (regionalparksfoundation.org)
