Golden Gate Fields deal set to create sweeping public park

A plan is afoot to buy Golden Gate Fields, the sprawling former horse racing track on the Berkeley-Albany border, and turn it into a park.

Officials announced the effort Tuesday, calling it a "dream come true" and a "once-in-a-generation opportunity."

Trust for Public Land (TPL), a national nonprofit with a 50-year history, said it had worked "in partnership" with the East Bay Regional Park District to secure an option agreement on the property.

"We are still early in the process and will be engaging community members and stakeholders across the region in supporting acquisition of this essential missing link in an interconnected shoreline park system," said Guillermo Rodriguez, director of California operations for Trust for Public Land.

An option agreement gives a buyer the right to purchase a site — but does not finalize the deal.

On Tuesday, The Mercury News reported that the $175 million purchase from track owner the Stronach Group was expected to close next year.

"Under the terms of the option agreement, the Stronach Group will remove all of the buildings from the site," the newspaper reported. "Those include stables for 1,420 horses and a grandstand that seated approximately 8,000 people. The property also includes parking for 8,500 cars. It was unclear Tuesday how much environmental cleanup might be required."

Horse racing at Golden Gate Fields ended in 2024 after 83 years in operation.

Golden Gate Fields: What's next for the park deal?

Exactly what comes next was not outlined in Tuesday's announcement, which highlighted excitement from all corners: from park officials and environmentalists to a long list of leaders, including California State Sen. Jesse Arreguín, Assemblymember Buffy Wicks, the mayors of both Berkeley and Albany, and City Councilwoman Rashi Kesarwani, who represents northwest Berkeley, where part of the property sits.

Kesarwani called the plan to transform the 161-acre parcel, on the San Francisco Bay, a "once-in-a-generation opportunity to create a world-class waterfront that belongs to everyone."

Tuesday's statement also emphasized how the Golden Gate Fields property would "fill the remaining gap" connecting open spaces along the 8.5-mile McLaughlin Eastshore State Park, which runs from the Bay Bridge up to Richmond's Point Isabel.

This part of the coast, wrote Trust for Public Land, "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."

The organization said it will now "work with partners to acquire the property and transfer it to the East Bay Regional Park District for long-term ownership and stewardship."

The Scanner has requested additional details in an effort to learn more.