YOUR HOMETOWN WEEKLY NEWSPAPER
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Vol. 20, No. 24
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City exploring amphitheater
June 15, 2018
Come Congrats to Class of 2018 Here The Weddings
by Rick Lemyre Staff Writer
Work has begun on a feasibility study that will help determine what a new amphitheater and event center in southwest Brentwood will include. Community members met Monday with Johnson Consulting to discuss the first phase of the facility – an amphitheater that will occupy a portion of the 30-acre site near the intersection of Vineyard Parkway and Marsh Creek Road. The site overlooks the Marsh Creek State Historic Park and the John Mash Stone House and is near the site of the new Los Medanos College campus that broke ground earlier this year. About $7 million for the amphitheater has been set aside from development fees paid by Trilogy at the Vineyards, said Brentwood Park and Recreation Director Bruce Mulder. “The amphitheater is in a conceptual design phase,” said Mulder. “Initial conceptual designs anticipate an amphitheater with 300- to 1,000-seat capacity. Based on results of this feasibility study, the city will decide how to see Amphitheater page 26A
The Press features all the latest, greatest tips and trends for every couple’s special day. Page 1B
Local Marine Saves The Day Photo by Tony Kukulich
H
eritage High grads Adrienne Martinez, Kaley Pastor, Antoin Ownes and Cristian Tatum enjoy the graduation Thursday, June 7. Additional graduation photos can be found on page 16A. To view more photos of the event, visit www.thepress.net/multimedia/slideshows
Parking a problem for eBART riders by Kyle Szymanski Staff Writer
Most East County residents appear to love the new eBART Antioch service. That is, when they can find a parking spot. A flood of Antioch station parking complaints have rolled in alongside BART’s newest line between Antioch and the Pittsburg/ Bay Point station. “The lot fills up fast, and there’s a sign to go to Pittsburg Center if the lot is full – meaning, ‘get back on the freeway,’” said East County resident Jackie Diaz. “There is so much open land there, a parking garage should have been built before opening the station.” Up to 3,000 riders daily entered the Antioch station between
“ The only criticism left is this parking, and I will be darned if we are going to let this parking (situation) bring this project down. We are going to do something about it.
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Joel Keller, BART board director May 26 and June 5, with only 1,006 parking stalls available, BART statistics show. BART Board Director Joel Keller said the station’s popularity has exceeded estimates, leading to the parking problems. But officials are working to find solutions. “You never know what is going to happen until you open a system,” Keller said. “The response has been tremendous.
People like the ride. The only criticism left is this parking, and I will be darned if we are going to let this parking (situation) bring this project down. We are going to do something about it.” The project’s environmental impact report forecasted 5,600 trips (2,800 each way), but numbers have jumped to as high as 8,297 trips thus far, according to BART statistics.
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BART spokesperson Alicia Trost said the agency included as many parking spaces as it had money for at the Antioch station. “Parking garages cost $40,000 to $50,000 per space, and a garage was never in the mix because of the amount of funding available,” she said. The lack of available parking in the station’s first week prompted some to park illegally wherever they could find a spot, including in high grass prone to fire or areas blocking bike lanes, Trost said. The agency has since installed “No Parking” signs and barriers to curtail the activity, and Antioch Police Department announced that it will issue tickets and tow vehicles parked illesee Parking page 26A
Library Program www.thepress.net/news/webextras
Summer Reading is underway at the Antioch Library from June 4 to Aug. 4.
An Oakley Marine’s quick thinking saves four people caught in the Kern River rapids. Page 5A
Dreaming Of Olympic Gold
Local trampolinist and Freedom High senior sets sights on future Olympic run. Page 17A Calendar.............................27A Classifieds..........................21A Cop Logs.............................25A Entertainment..................10A Food.....................................11A Kid Scoop............................. 9A Milestones.........................12A Pets........................................ 8A Sports..................................17A
Healthy Kids
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John Muir Health has tips for keeping your kids happy, healthy this summer.