On July 17, 1944, two ammunition ships exploded at Port Chicago, killing 320 sailors and civilians and injuring 390 others in the largest homefront military disaster of World War II. Most of the dead and injured were enlisted African-American sailors.
The National Park Service is establishing a Port Chicago Naval Magazine National Memorial to honor those who lost their lives. The NPS, East Bay Regional Park District and Friends of Port Chicago National Memorial will host a public ceremony at 3:30 p.m. July 17 to commemorate the 72nd anniversary of the Port Chicago explosion and to celebrate the National Park Service centennial.
The ceremony will be at the site of a visitor center planned jointly by the National Park Service and East Bay Regional Park District at the future Concord Hills Regional Park.
It’s an opportunity for friends, family and others interested in the Port Chicago disaster and its aftermath to join in a day of remembrance, celebrate the NPS centennial and visit the site of the planned new regional park. Visitors will be shuttled to the ceremony from the Pittsburg/Bay Point BART parking lot. Those with disabilities or requiring special assistance will be permitted to park on-site.
Tickets to the event are free of charge, but registration is required. To register, visit www.ebparks.org and click on “Port Chicago Commemoration” on the right side of the home page. Or call 925-228-8860, press 2 for the Port Chicago Naval Magazine National Memorial and dial extension 6424.
Oakley: Big Break Regional Shoreline in Oakley has a full calendar of activities in coming days. It all starts with “What’s Growing on?” from 2 to 3 p.m. Saturday. Big Break was once a farm, and you can stroll the trails with a naturalist to learn about it.
“Arachnid Adventures” will be from 2 to 3 p.m. July 17. It’s a safari in search of the park’s eight-legged residents. Visitors can search for nocturnal animals during a moonlight meander from 8:30 to 9:30 p.m. July 19.
And there’s a coffee talk and Delta news update from 8:30 to 9 a.m. July 20 and again Aug. 17. Catch up on current events and scientific activities in the Delta. All four programs are free. Big Break is at 69 Big Break Road off Main Street in Oakley. For information, call 888-327-2757, ext. 3050.
Berkeley: Homemade ice cream is on the menu during a program from 2 to 3 p.m. Saturday at Tilden Nature Area near Berkeley, hosted by interpretive student aide Brianna Contaxis-Tucker.
The group will learn about ice cubes and sugar crystals while cranking out the confection. The program meets at Tilden’s Environmental Education Center, located at the north end of Central Park Drive. Call 510-544-2233 for information.
Alameda: Ice cream is also the theme of Family Nature Fun Time from 2 to 3 p.m. Saturday and July 17 at Crab Cove Visitor Center in Alameda. A substance found in seaweed is sometimes used as a thickening agent in ice cream.
After Family Nature Fun Time, the fish in Crab Cove’s aquarium get fed from 3 to 3:30 p.m. They don’t get ice cream, though. Crab Cove is located at 1252 McKay Ave. off Central Avenue in Alameda. Call 510-544-3187 for information.
Fremont: You can rove with the ranger in a program from 1:30 to 3 p.m. July 17 and again Aug. 21 at Coyote Hills Regional Park in Fremont.
Meet naturalist Francis Mendoza at the park’s Quarry parking lot, and walk with him on the Bayview Trail in search of plants and animals. The program is for ages 5 and older. Coyote Hills is at the end of Patterson Ranch Road off Paseo Padre Parkway. For information, call 510-544-3220.
Ned MacKay writes a regular column about East Bay Regional Park District sites and activities. Email him at nedmackay@comcast.net.
