This review is purely for the paramedics/EMT's and ambulance policy if you live in the city of El…read moreCerrito, it is NOT about the firefighters. El Cerrito residents: As of 2023, if you call an ambulance and ask to be taken to ANY other hospital except Alta Bates in Berkeley or Richmond Kaiser, you will be refused. El Cerrito ambulances will NO LONGER bring you to the County hospital in Martinez or John Muir in Walnut Creek, even though it's in our County! Even if your health insurance ONLY covers John Muir, the ambulance staff does not care. And they will CHARGE YOU JUST FOR CALLING, EVEN IF THEY DIDN'T TAKE YOU ANYWHERE. Even if no blood pressure, no nothing, you will receive a bill for $550 and change. How come they don't charge old people for getting them off the floor, but charge a sick person for walking into your bedroom? Plus they treat you like some kind of criminal. And they love making inappropriate comments to women. If you're on Medicare, remember Medicare WILL NOT pay for an ambulance unless you're taken to the hospital. So, I guess the EC Fire Department wants to make their money and if you don't go to the hospital they know Medicare won't pay so they charge you, a sick and disabled person. I wonder how much more it would have been if I had let them force me into an EKG, even though my problem had nothing to do with the heart? Up-selling at its finest. Shame on the Fire Dept administrators! Praise for the ACTUAL firefighters risking their lives.

A great fire department with great guys who are always ready to serve their citizens with pride and…read moreintegrity, and if the need comes up, provide mutual aid to neighboring cities. As our local fire department says "when I doubt call us out!"

What a great park! As a new mom, I'm always on the hunt for great parks throughout the East…read moreBay...and Arlington Park has made the list. There's a few things I currently look for in a park before frequenting: is there easy/convenient parking, are there swings for not just the older kiddos, is there an open grass area for play or picnic, are there slides or safe infrastructure, and most importantly, is this a place I can make memories with my little or just unwind a bit. The answer to all of the above for Arlington Park is yes. I'm surprised how many parks don't have swings anymore, so grateful to those that do. Arlington Park has an incredibly large grass area to throw a blanket and bring a book to meet friends/take a break as well. Easy and free street parking, and did I mention there are ducks? Large enough to walk and spend some time, while also a great meeting spot. Would def recommend if looking for a new park or just a resting space and place. Well-kept grounds, perfect for keeping up the well being :)

Cute park with lake of ducks and turtles. Safe and pretty. Only issue is you have to go through…read morehoops to buy a key for the bathroom :-(

As a grand finale to the CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) curriculum and as a refresher for…read morecurrent team members, the El Cerrito Fire, Richmond Fire, and San Pablo Police departments host a biannual "Hands on Disaster Drill" for CERT students. Although I was excited to practice the fire suppression, cribbing/lifting, disaster medical/triage, light search and rescue, and neighborhood team skills I learned in the small El Cerrito-Kensington CERT program, I wasn't sure what to expect two weeks ago when I attended the 2009 drill. However, as a multi-city effort, the drill at El Cerrito City Hall thoroughly re-enacted a real emergency allowing CERT volunteers to interact while practice life-saving techniques. I particularly enjoyed acting as a member of a triage team to administer basic first aid to volunteer victims. I also enjoyed additional training provided by the American Red Cross regarding disaster preparedness and emergency shelters. I am still floored by what could happen if a disaster hit West Contra Costa County. I am glad the local cities are partnering to increase awareness and I will be back at future drills to maintain my newly acquired skill set and perhaps volunteer to "doll up" with severed limbs and be in shock so others might be able to help me in a real emergency .

Thank you, RFD, for saving the day. No, not like that. I appreciate the fast and professional…read moreresponses to me and free services to the public! It was not emergency yet, though I was entering a time crunch after weeks of calling around other businesses and they were not returning messages. So, I appreciate that RFD got back to me within 24 hours, worked around my schedule, and got an appointment scheduled at the local fire station for me. Even though the first appointment got abruptly canceled because I saw them rushing away to attend to an emergency, they called back an hour later and I got another same-day appointment. Thanks!!! Both Ben and Joshua were great to work with. Oh, and please be sure to stop by my neighborhood's annual BBQs, guys, I appreciate your public service!

A great fire department with great guys who are always ready to serve their citizens with pride and…read moreintegrity, and if the need comes up, provide mutual aid to neighboring cities. As our local fire department says "when I doubt call us out!"

This review is purely for the paramedics/EMT's and ambulance if you live in the city of El Cerrito,…read moreit is NOT about the firefighters. El Cerrito residents: As of 2023, if you call an ambulance and ask to be taken to ANY other hospital except Alta Bates in Berkeley or Richmond Kaiser, you will be REFUSED! El Cerrito ambulances will NO LONGER bring you to the County hospital in Martinez or John Muir in Walnut Creek, even though it's in our County! Even if your health insurance ONLY covers John Muir, the ambulance staff does not care and will NOT take you. And they will CHARGE YOU JUST FOR COMING, EVEN IF THEY DIDN'T TAKE YOU ANYWHERE. Even if no blood pressure, no nothing, you will receive a bill for $550 and change. How come they don't charge old people for getting them off the floor, but charge a younger disabled (paralyzed limb) person for walking into your bedroom? Plus they treat you like some kind of criminal. And they love making inappropriate comments to women. Questionable billing practices: they sent me only one bill. I called the billing department and explained I was charged even though no services were performed. The billing lady was shocked and I assumed she took care of it. Then, A YEAR AND A HALF LATER, I get a bill from a collections agency. No second bill or warning or anything. Other Yelpers are reporting the same thing. If you're on Medicare, remember Medicare WILL NOT pay for an ambulance unless you're taken to the hospital. So, I guess the EC Fire Department wants to make their money and if you don't go to the hospital they know Medicare won't pay so they charge you, a sick and disabled person. I wonder how much more it would have been if I had let them force me into an EKG, even though my problem had nothing to do with the heart? Up-selling at its finest! SHAME on the CCC Fire Dept administrators! Praise for the ACTUAL firefighters risking their lives.

A great fire department with great guys who are always ready to serve their citizens with pride and…read moreintegrity, and if the need comes up, provide mutual aid to neighboring cities. As our local fire department says "when I doubt call us out!"

After taking out lunch at a nearby restaurant which didn't have tables outside, we needed a place…read moreto enjoy our food. A friend suggested a nearby park so the three of us headed there. The Canyon Trail Park is a neighborhood park located at the end of a residential street. In the main section of the park, there's a large grassy area with a playground, two tennis courts and a couple of picnic tables. There were some parents and their kids in the park and a couple playing tennis. The empty picnic tables were perfect for the three of us to eat our lunch. The park has some mini hiking trails that I will need to check out in a future visit. There was a restroom next the clubhouse, but it was locked. But our object was met, finding this park to enjoy our lunch.

If you are looking for a nice path to walk in the neighborhoods-Canyon Trail is a very good places…read moreto go for，it has 3 designated parking space in front of the Art Center, and street Parking's too, a restroom was located next to the Art center, but please be aware, KEY was requested, and you can apply key from El Cerrito Community Center with a small deposit fee. Sometimes groups of parents and kids get together there for games, classes, birthday parties too, it has a large field of green green grass area, tennis court and a play structures good for little kids too. Canyon Trail is load with squirrels, birds, dragonflies...sometimes group of deers and turkeys will show up walked up and down. this trails supposed requires all dogs on leashes, but many people do let free their dogs, so watch out those aggressive ones. years ago we were be able to enjoy the little water pond down at the lower position of trail where the wooden sign was located, this tiny pond used to has lots of lives, tiny fishes, tadpoles, now seems not any more, pond now over growth with Cattails with some other water plants make it muddy muddy and no more clear waters. Near the pond it has three aged cherry blossom trees in about 2 months hopefully they'll be blooming and beautiful again. I truly hope those cattail in the pond that now damaged water quality and completely changed the living condition of this pod can be quickly clean out, we have not seen any tadpole this year so as other small fishes, sad lost of tadpoles lost of frogs singing around too.

This is a great park to meet the needs of a wide range of ages. My kids are about to age out of…read moreplaygrounds (9 and 12), and they liked the corkscrew slide and climbing wall and rope elements. The swings are in good condition. There were also little kids toddling around, with a structure geared to them. The playground is fenced in. There aren't a lot of benches, but there are a few shaded picnic tables. The bathrooms were present but seemed locked. Tennis courts down the hill. It's clean park with a lot to offer!

I love this park. Def recommend if your kid is an adventurous tot - if not maybe age 4 and older,…read more There is a kiddie section for maybe the 1-2 year olds but I find these manufactured "baby " areas aren't really early-tot proof (I.e the steps are too high or there aren't enough bars or the equipment doesn't sit lower to the ground) there werent infant swings either Either way my 18-month old was drawn to the bigger kid section with the huge twisting slides, and the climbing areas (rock wall etc) I'd def bring him back when he's older.