Sulphur Creek Nature Center completes renovation

“We’ve all heard of Nature Deficit Disorder and we know about the benefits of being outdoors. It’s places like this that play such a crucial role in the health and mental health of our community.”

H.A.R.D. General Manager James Wheeler

On Thursday, Nov. 7, local officials and environmentalists celebrated the completion of a year-long renovation project at Sulphur Creek Nature Center, the beloved wildlife education and rehabilitation facility owned and operated by Hayward Area Recreation and Park District (H.A.R.D.).

Key enhancements include a new outdoor education area with a manicured lawn and classroom pavilion, an amphitheater made from reclaimed eucalyptus trees, new signage, a welcome kiosk with site map, improved seating areas and a pollinator garden.

Said H.A.R.D. Board of Directors President Peter Rosen, “This is my favorite site in the park district. I grew up going to camps here, and my daughter went to camp here last summer. These renovations make it so much more welcoming now. It’s because of this place that I wanted to become a naturalist, and we hope it inspires others to do the same.”

The renovation cost of $688,000 was paid for through grants and donations from various agencies, including a $498,000 grant from the Outdoor Environmental Education Facility (OEEF) – a California State Parks program, a $100,000 grant from the Fremont Bank Foundation and a $40,000 grant from the H.A.R.D. Foundation.

H.A.R.D. General Manager James Wheeler declared it a victory, despite the challenges brought on by the pandemic. “This has been a long time coming. We promised we’d make improvements, and I feel like today it’s better.” 

Wheeler also cited H.A.R.D.’s inclusion in a recent online publication entitled “Special Districts Impacting Mental Health in Their Communities”, created by the California Special Districts Association. “We’ve all heard of Nature Deficit Disorder (NDD) and we know about the benefits of being outdoors. It’s places like this that play such a crucial role in the health and mental health of our community. It’s quiet here. It’s restorative.”

Nestled in the Hayward hills, the Sulphur Creek Nature Center is home to dozens of birds, amphibians, reptiles and mammals, including a coyote and a fox. The site straddles a small section of Sulphur Creek, named after the sulphur water bubbling up from nearby springs. In 1970, H.A.R.D. acquired the property, then a wellness retreat, and transformed it into the animal sanctuary it is today.

The center, a popular place for school field trips and camps, is one of only a handful of wildlife refuges in the Bay Area, and includes a fully staffed animal hospital, a museum with interactive exhibits, enclosures that house the animals and a few short hiking trails. The new addition effectively doubles the space.

The primary purpose of the center is to rehabilitate injured or sick animals and release them back into the wild. Some species, however, have found a permanent home here, as returning them to nature has been deemed too risky.

Said H.A.R.D. Board Member Sara Lamnin, “This is a special place where memories are made. It’s an exciting time to be here, with all of these projects coming to fruition. People always ask me about Sulphur Creek, and I’m happy to say that the possibilities have just expanded greatly with what we can do here and how we do it.”

Hayward resident Lily Tran started working at the center a year ago. “I love owls, so I was looking for a place where I could work with them. I was surprised to discover a place in my own backyard!” She has been amazed at the transformation, and enjoys educating families. “It’s really fun talking with the parents who came here as kids. Now they’re sharing it with their children. This place brings a lot of joy.”

Sulphur Creek’s Wildlife Rehabilitation program is accepting select native California wildlife for intakes. Contact 510.881.6747 about injured animals in need of help. 

Sulphur Creek Nature Center

1801 D St., Hayward

www.haywardrec.org/1991/Nature-Centers
Free admission and parking

Hours: 

Tuesdays – Fridays – 12:00pm-4:00pm

Saturdays and Sundays – 10:30am-2:30pm

Mondays – Closed