Trust for Public Land and East Bay Regional Park District Issue Joint Statements Following $125 Million State Investment to Help Protect Golden Gate Fields for Future Waterfront Park
San Francisco, CA — Following Governor Gavin Newsom and the State of California’s announcement of a $125 million investment to support the protection and future waterfront park development of Golden Gate Fields, Trust for Public Land (TPL) and the East Bay Regional Park District (EBRPD) issued the following statements.
Statement from Guillermo Rodriguez, Vice President Pacific Region, California State Director for Trust for Public Land:
“Today’s announcement by Governor Gavin Newsom and the California Natural Resources Agency marks a major milestone in the effort to permanently protect Golden Gate Fields and create a new waterfront park for East Bay communities and the broader Bay Area. We are deeply grateful to Governor Newsom and state leaders for recognizing the extraordinary opportunity this project represents for public access, climate resilience, and shoreline restoration along the San Francisco Bay.
This significant investment demonstrates California’s commitment to expanding public access to the San Francisco Bay, advancing climate resilience, and ensuring future generations can connect with the outdoors along one of the region’s most important shorelines. A comprehensive habitat restoration study indicates significant opportunities to enhance wildlife habitat and wetland restoration while improving public access and recreation amenities for communities across the East Bay.
Since Trust for Public Land announced its option agreement earlier this year, the outpouring of public support has been extraordinary. From local residents and environmental advocates to community leaders, and elected officials across the region, people have made clear they want to see this remarkable stretch of shoreline protected and opened for public benefit. We are deeply grateful to Governor Newsom, state legislative leaders, and our partners at East Bay Regional Parks District for being strong partners from the start of this project.
While today’s announcement is an important step forward, this campaign is far from complete. Significant partnership, public support, and additional investment remain necessary to secure the property and realize the full promise of this transformational project. We look forward to continuing to work alongside community leaders, advocates, public agencies, supporters, and members of the Legislature to help permanently protect this extraordinary stretch of shoreline for generations to come.”
Statement from Elizabeth Echols, Director of Ward 1, East Bay Regional Park District Board of Directors:
“The East Bay Regional Park District is truly honored by the opportunity to serve as stewards of this landmark shoreline property for generations to come. We are incredibly thankful for the investment by Governor Newsom and state leaders in the health and well-being of our diverse East Bay communities through what will become a world class park– a park that offers access to nature, connection to the bay shoreline, and the opportunity to recreate in a beautiful and highly accessible setting. The ability to restore coastal habitat also will help secure the long-term resilience of our shoreline and protect nearby communities from the impacts of climate change.”
Statement from Max Korten, Acting General Manager, East Bay Regional Park District:
“The acquisition of Golden Gate Fields will serve as a launchpad for a fun, creative and engaging visioning process with the Cities of Albany and Berkeley and the many other stakeholders across our region who want to play a role in shaping the future of the East Bay shoreline. The Park District wants everyone to feel invested in the transformation of this property into a phenomenal park.”
Earlier this year, TPL working in partnership with the East Bay Regional Park District announced that it secured an option agreement on the former Golden Gate Fields property in Albany/Berkeley, creating a once-in-a-generation opportunity to transform the 161-acre waterfront site into a future public park with community-serving recreational amenities along the San Francisco Bay. TPL intends to work with partners to raise the funds required to acquire the property and transfer it to the East Bay Regional Park District for long-term ownership and stewardship.
The property, a former horse racing track that closed in 2024, sits along a prominent stretch of East Bay shoreline and represents one of the largest remaining opportunities to expand public access to the Bay while investing in a shoreline that is more resilient to flooding and sea level rise. Golden Gate Fields has the potential to become part of a contiguous stretch of public open space and Bay shoreline, providing an incredible resource for the entire Bay Area. It would fill the remaining gap connecting existing public parks along the Bay, including Albany Beach, the 8.5-mile-long McLaughlin Eastshore State Park, 23-acre Point Isabel Regional Shoreline, 31-acre Albany Bulb, as well as the Brooks Island Regional Preserve, a 373-acre nature preserve located directly offshore.
Trust for Public Land has over 900 active or completed park projects, protecting over 540,000 acres across California and better connecting more than 1.2 million Californians to the outdoors.
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About Trust for Public Land
Trust for Public Land (TPL) is a national nonprofit that works to connect everyone to the benefits and joys of the outdoors. As a leader in equitable access to the outdoors, TPL works with communities to create parks and protect public land where they are needed most. Since 1972, TPL has protected more than 4 million acres of public land, created more than 5,500 parks, trails, schoolyards, and iconic outdoor places, raised $112 billion in public funding for parks and public lands, and connected nearly 10 million people to the outdoors. To learn more, visit www.tpl.org
About East Bay Regional Park District
Established in 1934, the East Bay Regional Park District is a public agency that manages an extensive system of parks, trails, and open space across Alameda and Contra Costa counties in California. It is led by an elected Board of Directors representing 7 Wards including Elizabeth Echols (Ward 1), Lynda Deschambault (Ward 2), Dennis Waespi (Ward 3), Luana España (Ward 4), Olivia Sanwong (Ward 5), John Mercurio (Ward 6) and Colin Coffey (Ward 7). The Park District provides recreational opportunities such as hiking, biking, camping, fishing, and swimming, while conserving wildlife habitats and natural resources. The Park District plays a vital role in environmental stewardship, public education, and ensuring access to nature for millions of residents and visitors each year. The Park District is primarily supported by local property taxes and grant funding.
