Tiburon to explore Bramble Beach for kayak launch

The Tiburon Parks, Open Space and Trails Commission will explore whether it can place a paddlecraft launch site at Bramble Beach, which borders Belvedere at San Rafael Avenue off Tiburon Boulevard, as seen Dec. 10. Officials have acknowledged various factors that could make this site difficult to pursue, primarily a lack of parking. (Francisco Martinez / The Ark)

After a decade of false starts, Tiburon is taking another run at creating a stand-up paddleboard and kayak launch on Richardson Bay — this time at a small beach near the Belvedere border that town officials say will be difficult to pull off.

The Parks, Open Space and Trails Commission voted 4-0 Dec. 8 to have town staff explore options for a launch at Bramble Beach, located just off San Rafael Avenue and Tiburon Boulevard. Commissioner Liz Judge was absent.

While Bramble Beach is being evaluated for the first time, the launch has been a longtime desire of residents and officials. The Town Council first explored placing one along Shoreline Park in downtown Tiburon in 2015, but the idea fizzled when officials determined there were limited options for safe entry because of tidal action and ferry traffic.

In a 2023 survey for the town’s parks master plan, 39% of respondents wanted a kayak and paddleboard launch — the sixth-highest priority — and when asked where to invest resources, a launch site ranked No. 1. In 2015, the estimated construction cost was $125,000. Current values would increase construction by 30%-40%, not including contingencies, putting the cost at roughly $162,500 to $175,000.

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