The East Bay Regional Parks heralded the grand opening of the latest natural playground in Sunol: the Tyler Ranch Staging Area. This hot new spot serves as the gateway to over 18 miles of heavenly trails and spans a whopping, and not to mention stunning, 2,800 acres of open space that the public can now get their hiking boots and bike tires into.

Locals gathered on Sunday to celebrate the much-anticipated completion of the staging area, nestled in the rolling hills of Pleasanton Ridge Regional Park. According to a statement obtained by East Bay Regional Park District's press release, this expansion is a jam-packed parcel of trails for pedestrians, horseback riders, and cyclists alike, inching the park closer to utopia status for Bay Area open space aficionados.

One of the excited trailblazers, Malissa Swanson, who visited the new outpost, was quoted by NBC Bay Area, singing praises for the simple yet significant amenities, "There is parking. Love the bathroom facilities that they have." 

Basking in the limelight, the grand opening event featured a program with talks by notable speakers and park staff who were on hand to share their insights. The new Tyler Ranch Staging Area and Trails project didn't just pop up out of the earth fully formed; it's the fruit of labors funded by California State Parks and Measure WW, breathing new life into the scenic Sunol landscape. Visitors can expect "amazing panoramic views of the Bay Area," including eye-candies like the San Francisco Bay and Mount Diablo, as East Bay Regional Park District's release boasts. And if that doesn't get your heart racing, exploring the Sunol Ridge Trail and Tyler Ranch Trail should do the trick.

Sabrina Landrith, the general manager of the East Bay Regional Park District, told NBC Bay Area, “This opening of the new staging area is going to increase access to over 2,800 acres of open space, including 18 miles of trails here.” With over 70 parking spots now available, the promise of restrooms, and a drinking fountain to quench the thirst of parched adventurers, the Tyler Ranch Staging Area is setting up to be the park jewel in East Bay's crown.