Unincorporated Town,
Contra Costa County
© McCormack's Guides
Zip Code: 94565
An
old-new neighborhood, population
24,000, located just east of the hills that divide central county from east
county. Family town with loads of
kids. About 33 percent of the residents are under age 18 (2000 census). “Older” communities often have fewer than 15 percent kids. www.mccormacks.com
Bay Point borders
a BART station with 2,500 parking spaces. Highway 4 has been widened and
improved but in the evening often clogs in Concord just before it ascends
Willow Pass and drops into Bay Point.
Still,
because of its location and the BART station, Bay Point has the best commute in
the East County. One minor plus: a sure seat in the morning on BART, a rare
benefit. Another BART station is located just over the hill, in North Concord.
Click for regional or detailed map
Bay
Point, which used to be known as West Pittsburg, is an unincorporated town,
governed by the county supervisors. The town has an advisory council that
influences local decisions and a committee that decides where to spend
redevelopment funds.
Many
new or fairly new homes were grafted onto an older neighborhood that includes a
mobile home park. Bay Point started 1980s with 8,773 residents, finished with
17,453. In the 1990s, the town increased its population by 24 percent to
21,534.
Served by Ambrose Park and Recreation
District, which runs community center, parks, swimming pool. On the Delta,
plenty of fishing and boating. Library. www.mccormacks.com
Low to middling academic rankings, but
if the town turns more middle class, scores should come up. Served by Mt.
Diablo School District. See Schools.
Teens
attend Mt. Diablo High School in Concord, a sore point with parents. They would
like to see a local high school.
Neighborhood schools include Bel Air, Rio Vista and Shore Acres elementaries and Riverview Middle.
In 2002, another bond was passed to
renovate the district’s schools.
A
town in transition. For years, Bay Point suffered from crime but as the
neighborhood becomes more middle class the crime may be decreasing. Patrolled
by sheriff’s deputies and highway patrol. Some fixing up, including tree
planting in the median strips.
Ten
minutes from SunValley shopping mall.
Other malls in nearby Pittsburg and Antioch. Los Medanos Community
College in Pittsburg, Diablo Valley College in Pleasant Hill, both drives of
about 10 miles. www.mccormacks.com
Some
residents would like the incorporate Bay Point as a legal city but several efforts have come to naught.
• Bau Point borders the Concord Naval Weapons Station, which the Navy is turning over to the City of Concord. Tentative plans call for parks and thousands of housing units. Many arguments over what should be done with the land but almost assuredly it will get the housing.
• Shortcut to Concord and Interstate 680 that can be used when Highway 4 is jammed — Bailey Road.
• Also just over the hill: the Concord (Sleep Train) Pavilion. Annual jazz festival; top-music acts.
Ambrose Park and Recreation District: www.ambroserec.org
3/6/2010
