Plan to turn Golden Gate Fields into waterfront park could get $125M from state

"The revised budget proposal Gov. Gavin Newsom rolled out Thursday calls for giving the effort $125 million in funding raised by Proposition 4, a parks and climate resilience bond voters approved two years ago. That would cover most of the $175 million purchase price that the Stronach Group, the track's Canadian owner, agreed to in a deal announced earlier this year with the nonprofit Trust for Public Land, which plans to buy the site and transfer it to the East Bay Regional Park District."

"The district has committed another $20 million toward the purchase, while the trust said it also plans to raise money for it through private philanthropy. 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, said Guillermo Rodriguez, the trust's California state director, in a statement Thursday."

"The purchase agreement gives the trust, which is based in San Francisco and has acquired more than 5 million acres of land nationwide for parks and other public uses, until the end of the year to come up with the money. Home for more than eight decades to horse racing, Golden Gate Fields has been quiet since the track closed in 2024."

"Park district officials say they plan to undertake a public process to decide precisely what they'll do with the 161-acre site that straddles the Berkeley-Albany border and boasts a panoramic view of San Francisco, the Golden Gate and Mount Tamalpais. Rodriguez said a study of the site identified significant opportunities to enhance wildlife habitat and wetland r"

A revised state budget proposal would allocate $125 million from Proposition 4 to support converting Golden Gate Fields into a waterfront park. The funding would cover most of a $175 million purchase price agreed to by the Stronach Group, with the Trust for Public Land planning to buy the site and transfer it to the East Bay Regional Park District. The park district has committed $20 million, and the trust plans to raise additional money through private philanthropy. The purchase would expand public access to the San Francisco Bay and advance climate resilience. The trust has until the end of the year to secure the funds. The 161-acre site has been quiet since the track closed in 2024, and the park district plans a public process to determine future uses, including wildlife habitat and wetlands.

Read at www.berkeleyside.org