The Albany Bulb is a lovely way to take advantage of this warm January ‘spring’ breeze and persistent sun. Not very long ago it was just an old garbage dump jutting out into the San Francisco Bay. Today, it is one of the oddest parks in the San Francisco Bay, but it is not to be missed. The "Bulb" boasts a medley of stunning views and grimy corners, urban art interspersed with graffiti, and rusty industrial leftovers in the midst of thriving green things.
Countless paths meander throughout the peninsula and eventually lead to rocky beaches, and every turn reveals a new surprise: a tree decorated with a rainbow array of used CDs, a tiny mosaic at the bottom of a concrete slab, a new collection of sculptures made out of bike wheels, driftwood sculptures covered in sequins and feathers, or wind chimes fashioned out of soda cans.
The peninsula is visibly a place that was once abused and then disregarded, but it has been lovingly transformed and restored by an invisible army - or a culmination of visitors who have decided to leave something special. There is always something new to see.
It’s a great place to walk around, watch the sunset by the graffiti castle, let your dog off the leash, enjoy a stunning San Francisco sunset, or just relax. If you don’t mind coming face to face with a bit of grit, the Albany Bulb is a great place to enjoy an alternative to the typical ‘walk in the park’.
Check out the documentary on the Albany Bulb at www.bumsparadise.com/ for the history of this place, and www.ebparks.org/parks/eastshore for more information on East Shore parks.
Comments
I really enjoyed this article. It offers a new look at some bay area sites which are otherwise overlooked.
Wow. Talk about seeing the gold in the sludge. I'll never be able to see the Bulb the same again. This kid can write!
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