Closed in 2024 after 83 years of horse racing, the historic Golden Gate Fields racetrack at the Berkeley and Albany waterfronts was approved for acquisition in a $175 million deal to transform the space into a public park.
The approximately 161 acres will be acquired by Trust for Public Land, or TPL, a nonprofit dedicated to park conservation and development. $125 million of the transaction was funded by a Proposition 4 climate bond signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom in September. The remaining $50 million will come from a combination of donations and grants, including $20 million from Measure WW, a bond to expand regional park space approved by voters in 2008.
“For too many of our residents, including children, seniors, and working families … the East Bay shoreline has felt out of reach,” said Berkeley Mayor Adena Ishii in an email statement. “Now it will belong to them, a refuge nearby that offers clean air, open water, and breathtaking views.”
An East Bay cultural landmark, the racing track first opened in 1941, right before the United States entered World War II. Golden Gate Fields saw decades of derbies and races before closing in June 2024.
The Stronach Group, which owned the track, shut it down to redirect resources to bolster Santa Anita Park, its Southern California racetrack in Arcadia, according to the Los Angeles Times.
Now, the deal hopes to transform the land into a space that makes the waterfront nature accessible to local communities.
The transformation seeks to connect existing public waterfront spaces, including Albany Beach and McLaughlin Eastshore State Park, and create a more continuous network between the shoreline parks. TPL also aims to restore wetland ecosystem spaces and establish protective shoreline infrastructure that may defend nearby neighborhoods from climate disasters.
“Next steps include securing remaining funding,” said state Sen. Jesse Arreguín in an email, who was involved in obtaining state funding for the park. “Once the sale is complete, the property will be transferred to the East Bay Regional Park District who will be responsible for owning, managing, and completing the project.”
The project plan will involve gathering community input from residents and city officials of both Berkeley and Albany, according to Arreguín.
Ownership is expected to be transferred to the Park District in 2027 after the transaction closes. East Bay Regional Park District anticipates the first phase of park development to begin after 2029. Timelines for public opening have not yet been shared.
“Golden Gate Fields has a rich history that deserves recognition … Thoughtfully incorporated design elements could preserve the story of horse racing at the site and the people who contributed to its history,” said Emeryville Mayor Sukhdeep Kaur in an email. “I believe we can embrace the future while honoring the past.”