Bayfront Park to Replace Iconic Horse Track

A significant bayfront property, formerly home to the Golden Gate Fields racetrack for over eight decades, is on track to become a large public park. The Trust for Public Land has negotiated an agreement to acquire the 161-acre site, which spans the Berkeley-Albany border. This land is intended for transfer to the East Bay Regional Park District, creating a new section of parks along the eastern shore of the bay.

The nonprofit Trust for Public Land has committed to purchasing the property for $175 million, with an option to finalize the deal by the end of the year. The East Bay Regional Park District will contribute $20 million towards the acquisition using funds previously earmarked for the site. The current owner, the Stronach Group, has agreed to demolish existing structures as part of the transaction.

If the acquisition proceeds, the park district will initiate a public engagement process to determine the park's features. The transformation is expected to take approximately five years before the park opens to the public. Community input will be crucial in shaping this new public space, which also aims to restore the land to a more natural state and enhance coastal resilience.

This potential park development culminates decades of advocacy for open space at the site. Previous proposals for commercial or housing projects at the track were met with resistance. The acquisition fills a vital gap in the existing McLaughlin Eastshore State Park system, promising a lasting public benefit for generations.