The East Bay Regional Park District has removed the flag-barn façade from Vasco Hills Regional Preserve and handed it over to the City of Brentwood, where it is intended to be displayed in the future—either at the Brentwood Municipal Services Centre or in a local park.
Park officials had inspected the structure multiple times and concluded that it was unsafe, deteriorating, and at risk of collapse, especially with the approaching autumn and winter months. The Park District acquired the parcel containing the barn in 2010 in partnership with the East Contra Costa County Habitat Conservancy for habitat conservation. At the time of acquisition, the barn was judged to be beyond repair. Moreover, a conservation easement placed when the land was purchased prohibits any repairs or new construction to the structure.
Over the past year, the Park District has been collaborating with Brentwood to preserve the façade, which has become a landmark visible from Vasco Road. The “Flag Barn” was painted in 2001, in the period following the 9/11 attacks, as a symbol of American patriotism.
“This effort highlights the strength of community collaboration,” said Max Korten, Deputy General Manager at the Park District. “The flag-barn façade holds deep significance for many locals, and we are proud to partner with the City of Brentwood in safeguarding this piece of local heritage.”
The Park District is covering the cost of dismantling and transporting the façade to Brentwood. Any timber not associated with the façade itself will be reused by the Park District.
The East Bay Regional Park District is one of the largest regional park systems in the United States, comprising 73 parks, 55 miles of shoreline, and over 1,330 miles of trails for hiking, biking, equestrian use, and environmental education. It attracts an estimated 30 million visits per year across Alameda and Contra Costa counties.
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