Historic California racetrack could become waterfront park in $175m plan
California lawmakers have proposed a $175 million plan to transform the former Golden Gate Fields racetrack into a public waterfront park. The project relies on $125 million in state climate bond funding to complete the land acquisition by 2026.
Why it matters
This initiative represents a significant effort in urban land reclamation and public access to coastal areas in the United States.
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.
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