Around Oakley: Fishing derby, cleanup day set in Oakley

By Roni Gehlke
For the Contra Costa Times

Since there aren't a lot of places where one can view the water in Oakley it is easy to forget that so much shoreline is to be found in the small city. There is even a creek that runs perpendicular to Main Street that offers water views in the area.
In the coming week residents will have the chance to spend some time along Oakley's waterways. First up, on Saturday, the city of Oakley and Oakley business Hook, Line and Sinker will offer a free fishing day on the Delta for children 15 and under.
This is the seventh year the city has offered the Kids Fishing Derby, which takes place at the Antioch-Oakley Regional Shoreline pier at the end of Bridgehead Road. While it is called the Antioch-Oakley Regional Shoreline Park, most of the actual park and the pier are on the Oakley side of the property. For those who haven't had a chance to see the park, it is open to the public from sunrise to sunset free of charge.
The pier used to be the original Antioch Bridge that connected East County to Highway 160. The original 1.8-mile bridge was built in 1926 and served the area until it was torn down in 1978. That first bridge had quite a history. It was a lift-span bridge, much like the bridges that can be found on Highway 160.
Over the years the bridge had several boat collisions. After the last one in 1970 a new bridge was built.
Shoreline Park today sports a view of the Sen. John A. Nejedly Bridge, or what many commonly refer to as the new Antioch Bridge. There is also a small trail around the shoreline that gives views of the Delta. The pier is used by many local fishermen in the area.
The Kids Fishing Derby is a catch-and-release program. Awards and prizes will be given out for the biggest fish by length, smallest fish by length and most fish caught in the day.
Although the event is free, the organizers ask that you preregister at Hook, Line and Sinker at 3100 Main St., Suite 260, behind Centr-O-Mart, or at City Hall. They will offer a free hot dog lunch, and the organizers want to be prepared with enough food. If you can't register, however, there will be on-site registration the day of the event.
Registration for the event starts at 8 a.m.; the derby starts at 9. A fishing pole is required to participate, but bait will be provided. For more information, call 625-7041 or check out the city's website at www.oakleyinfo.com.
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On Sept. 25, the Friends of the Marsh Creek Watershed will host its annual Marsh Creek Creek Cleanup from 9 a.m. to noon. It is amazing just how much garbage blows around in the wind and gets stuck along the shores of the Marsh Creek Trail.
Last year 640 volunteers came out to clean up more than two tons of trash from the creek, which runs through both Oakley and Brentwood. Volunteers are needed from both cities to help.
For details on the cleanup efforts, call 925-325-2908. There is also information on the friends' website at www.fomcw.org.

Roni Gehlke is an Oakley resident. Reach her at ourbackyard@comcast.net.