California lawmakers propose $125 million to transform Golden Gate Fields into public park

Golden Gate Fields, a 161-acre racetrack in California that closed in 2024 after 83 years of horse racing, could get a new future as a major waterfront park near Berkeley. The state's lawmakers have proposed setting aside $125 million in state funds to support the plan. The funding would come from Proposition 4, a climate bond approved by California voters in 2024, San Fransisco Chronicle reported. The proposal was introduced by state Sen Jesse Arreguin and is aimed at helping transform the former racetrack into a regional public park along the East Bay shoreline. “This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to reclaim 161 acres of East Bay waterfront for the public, and we are seizing it,” Arreguin said in a statement. The proposed park would open up a large stretch of waterfront that was previously occupied by the racetrack. Plans include better access for pedestrians and cyclists and a connection between existing parks and protected open spaces in the area. The property also has views of the Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco, Mount Tamalpais and the Marin Headlands. The proposal comes after years of debate over what should happen to the Golden Gate Fields property. The racetrack was the Bay Area’s last remaining horse racing venue when it closed in 2024.

Nonprofit plans to buy site

The Trust for Public Land announced in March that it intended to purchase the property and preserve it as a park. The national nonprofit, which acquires land for parks and conservation, has been working with local officials, conservationists and community groups on the proposed acquisition. The organisation agreed to purchase the land if it could raise the required $175 million before the end of 2026. It had about $20 million available when it entered the purchase agreement, according to a report by Bay City News Service. The proposed $125 million state contribution would therefore provide most of the remaining funding needed to complete the purchase. However, the money is not yet guaranteed. The proposal remains subject to approval through the state budget process.

Connecting open spaces

The proposed park would not stand alone. According to Arreguin’s office, the park could connect Albany Beach with McLaughlin Eastshore State Park. The proposal would also create a larger continuous open-space area linking Albany Beach, McLaughlin Eastshore State Park, Point Isabel Regional Shoreline, Albany Bulb and Brooks Island Regional Preserve. The Trust for Public Land plans to donate the property to the East Bay Regional Park District after purchasing it. The land is divided between the city boundaries of Albany and Berkeley. The proposed park would include a mix of recreational facilities and open space. “With this $125 million investment, Golden Gate Fields can go from a shuttered racetrack to one of the great waterfront parks in California,” Arreguin said. He added that the community had fought for the land to have a future where it could be open to everyone rather than remaining behind fences.

From horse racing to public open space

Golden Gate Fields opened in 1941 and became a major horse racing venue in the Bay Area. Racing was suspended during World War II before resuming in 1947. The venue eventually became the Bay Area’s last racetrack. Its closure in 2024 ended 83 years of horse racing at the site. Arreguin, who was Berkeley’s mayor when the closure was announced, supported turning the property into public open space. Earlier this month, environmentalists and community members testified before a state Senate budget subcommittee in support of funding for the park proposal. Berkeley civic leaders Loni Hancock and Tom Bates also spoke in favour of the plan, according to Arreguin. For now, the proposed transformation depends on the state budget process. If lawmakers approve the $125 million allocation, the funding could help the Trust for Public Land complete its planned purchase and move the former racetrack closer to becoming a public waterfront park.