After more than a decade of dreaming, planning, meeting and fundraising, the first phase of the Delta Science Center is nearly complete at the Big Break Regional Shoreline, promising to provide much-needed public access to the scenic Delta.

Although a lot of work remains, you can take a sneak peek at what's to come this Saturday from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the site off of Big Break Road.

The East Bay Regional Park District, one of the partners building the interpretive park, will be conducting tours of the trail, fishing pier and staging area. Saturday's event will include snacks, arts and crafts and family-fun activities, interpretive walks along the trails, and a mobile fish exhibit.

"I am just very excited to have this facility in place," said Mayor Kevin Romick. "This has been going on for a long, long time, and now it's here. We're all looking forward to it."

Secured with over $4 million in bond funding, the first phase of the project is nearly complete. It includes a 120-foot pier and observation point, an entry road, paved areas, restrooms and observation areas.

"This day is really a chance for people to come out and see the progress we have made, enjoy the setting and hear about the rest of the project," said Diane Althoff, chief of design and construction for the East Bay Regional Park District. "It's a beautiful spot, and we want people to come out and enjoy it."

Following the preview event, the shoreline pier and amenities will continue to be open to the public until the park district begins trucking in soil for the construction of upland fill areas in early summer. Because the area sits along the flood zone, accommodations for buildings to be built above the flood areas must be made.

"We are going to need somewhere in the neighborhood of 60,000 cubic yards of what we call opportunity fill," said Althoff. "The 'opportunity' meaning we hope to have the fill donated if possible. Once that work begins, we will have to close the area for, we hope, no more than a few months."

When complete, the site will offer a variety of opportunities for exploration, wildlife viewing, fishing, hunting and other recreation. Plans also include a 3,000-square-foot Delta Learning Center, which will house classroom labs and native plant gardens.

Also in the plans is the Delta Discovery Experience, an outdoor, interactive wetland exhibit, which will also include an amphitheatre.

"We expect to have the Delta Center done by 2008, and the Delta Discovery

Experience by 2009," she said. "It's just a matter of securing everything."

For more information on Saturday's event, call (510) 544-2008.

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