Walnut Creek

Walnut Creek is a community located 16 miles east of the city of Oakland. It lies in the East Bay region of the San Francisco Bay Area. While not as large as neighboring Concord, Walnut Creek serves as the business and entertainment hub for the neighboring cities within central Contra Costa County, due in part to its location at the junction of the highways from Sacramento and San Jose (I-680) and San Francisco/Oakland (SR-24). As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 64,296.

Walnut Creek owns more open space per capita than any other community in the state of California. In 1974, Walnut Creek voters approved a $6.7 million bond measure that allowed the city to purchase 1,800 acres (7 km²) of undeveloped hillsides, ridge lines, and park sites. Walnut Creek owns parts of Lime Ridge Open Space, Shell Ridge Open Space, Acalanes Ridge Open Space, and Sugarloaf Openspace. There is also open space in the retirement community, Rossmoor.

Culture:

California Symphony
The California Symphony (notable for its commitment to the performance of music by American composers) has been based in Walnut Creek since its inception in 1986.

Civic Arts Program
The city organizes education in graphic arts, sculpture, pottery, and performance arts such as dancing for various age groups is actively supported and encouraged by the Civic Arts Program.

Clay Arts Guild
Clay Arts Guild (CAG) is a non-profit volunteer organization supporting ceramics arts education under the Civic Arts Program of Walnut Creek. The organization is notable for its long history in the region (established in 1964) and the numerous sculptors and potters who have practiced, taught classes, and/or given masters seminars through its offices.

Activities supported by CAG include:

- Open studio monitoring for students enrolled in Civic Arts Classes

- Purchase of equipment for studio use

- Fundraising via direct sales of donated crafted goods and commission on sales of artist's goods

- Direct support of students through merit scholarships to Civic Arts Program classes

- Organization of master level seminars presented by innovative and famous artisans.

- All work produced using Civic Arts equipment can only be sold through CAG sales.

The Lesher Center for the Arts
Several performance spaces (The Knight Stage 3, The Hoffman, and The Margaret Lesher theatres) and the Bedford Gallery are included in this modern building.
 
Public transit:

A free shuttle operates between the central district and the Walnut Creek BART station. BART provides regional access in and out of Walnut Creek to most of the Bay Area. Other areas of Walnut Creek may be accessed at modest cost by using the buses of the Central Contra Costa Transit Authority. In addition, Walnut Creek is transected by the Iron Horse Trail (running north/south) through its downtown, as well as the Contra Costa Canal Trail (running east/west) at the north end of the city. Both these trails, in addition to the many bike lanes in the city make bicycle transportation very feasible for recreation or for an alternative commute.