California pushes $125 million toward buying former Golden Gate Fields for waterfront park
State officials are advancing a $125 million allocation to help purchase the 162-acre former Golden Gate Fields site, aiming to convert it into a public park along the East Bay shoreline.
California lawmakers are moving a $125 million state contribution, drawn from Proposition 4, toward purchasing the 162-acre former Golden Gate Fields racetrack that straddles Albany and Berkeley. The funding, championed by Governor Gavin Newsom, would bridge most of the $175 million price tag, with the Trust for Public Land holding an exclusive option to buy and then hand the land to the East Bay Regional Park District for long-term stewardship.
The park district has already earmarked $20 million from Measure WW, leaving roughly $30 million to be raised from public and philanthropic sources before an early-2027 deadline. If the deal closes in spring 2027, a multi-year planning process would run from 2027 to 2029, shaping habitat restoration, recreation amenities, and expanded shoreline access. Construction would proceed in phases after 2029, contingent on additional financing. The project promises to connect the new park with nearby open spaces such as the Albany Bulb and McLaughlin Eastshore State Park, enhancing public access to San Francisco Bay.
Why it matters
The purchase could transform a former commercial site into a major public park, boosting recreation and environmental restoration for Bay Area residents.
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