The Hayward Shoreline Interpretive Center (HSIC) is perched on stilts above a salt marsh, serving as a gateway to the intricate ecology of the San Francisco Bay Estuary. It features exhibits, programs, and activities designed to inspire a sense of appreciation, respect, and stewardship for the bay, its inhabitants, and the services they provide.
Adjacent to the HSIC lies the Hayward Regional Shoreline, a sprawling park and trail system operated by the East Bay Regional Park District. This mosaic of landscapes spans nearly seven miles of diked trails along the San Francisco Bay, forming part of the San Francisco Bay Trail. Visitors can traverse through mudflats, salt marshes, grasslands, and salt evaporation ponds, discovering the region’s rich tapestry.
The Hayward Shoreline Interpretive Center strives to strengthen the connection between people and the San Francisco Bay Estuary through educational and recreational programs. Our goal is to inspire a sense of appreciation, respect, and stewardship for the Estuary, its inhabitants, and the services they provide.
Brief History: The center opened in 1986 as a place where school groups, community groups, and the general public could learn about the ecology, history, and significance of the wetlands surrounding San Francisco Bay. The San Francisco Bay is an estuary where saltwater and freshwater mix. We call this a “salt marsh,” but these wetlands consist of a complex set of salt, fresh, brackish, and tidal ponds. From 1856 through the 1940s, this area was used for salt production. In 1980, land managers began removing dikes to restore tidal action to an area that was originally a mixture of tidal wetlands and associated uplands.
Current Visitation:
The center is open to the public on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays from 11:00am-3:00pm. Visitors are encouraged to browse the art gallery and explore the Delfino room which is home to local species and interactive educational displays. The center hosts numerous programs including summer camps, toddler activities, weekend hikes, scout programs, and other nature activities. In 2023, the center welcomed over 500 program participants and their families. Furthermore, the center offers field trip opportunities for local schools. Throughout the 2023 school year, over 700 school children participated in field trips which include plankton observations, water quality testing, and trail exploration.
Janice and Frank Delfino Wetland Habitat Room Renovations:
In the Janice and Frank Delfino Wetland Habitat Room, visitors are treated to a bird’s eye—and crab’s eye—view of the salt marsh. By changing their viewing perspective, they realize that the shallow water, mudflats, and the marsh itself teem with life forms, some large and most remarkably small. What is hidden beneath the surface of the water and mud forms the base of complex food webs. Plankton and benthic organisms sustain a host of salt marsh animals—a dazzling array of marine invertebrates, fish, shorebirds, and wading birds.
The District prepared conceptual plans for renovations to the Wetland Habitat Room to enhance the visitor and educational experience. By changing their perspective, visitors gain an understanding of the vibrant life within the shallow water, mudflats, and marsh. Conceptual plans have been prepared for renovations to this room, themed around the dynamic nature of salt marsh ecosystems, to include new interpretive panels, graphics, aquarium and terrarium tanks, a plankton rain counter with microscopes, and an interactive mud rub activity corner for kids.
Future Partnership Opportunities:
Looking ahead, the District is exploring opportunities to expand environmental education to cover topics such as rising sea levels and climate change. Situated along the SF Bay and Highway 92, the center is well-positioned to observe the direct effects of environmental change. It could serve as a collaborative hub for the District and other agencies to monitor and address the challenges these changes pose to the shoreline and adjacent urban infrastructure.
