East Bay Regional Park District announces purchase of 82 acres at Point Molate

After decades of debate over the future of Point Molate, the East Bay Regional Park District has finalized the purchase of 82 acres of shoreline property on the Point San Pablo Peninsula, clearing the way for a new regional park.

The $40 million deal, completed Tuesday, transfers the land from the Guidiville Rancheria of California, a federally recognized tribal nation, to the Park District. Officials say the acquisition will permanently preserve the area’s sweeping bayfront, cultural history, and sensitive habitat.

“This is a remarkable milestone for the entire Bay Area,” Park District General Manager Sabrina Landreth said in a statement. “Thank you to our partners who have supported the goal of preserving Point Molate as public parkland and helped make the acquisition possible.”

The property includes sites of historic and cultural significance: Native American sacred areas, remnants of a Chinese fishing village, and Winehaven, once the world’s largest winery. Park District Board Director Elizabeth Echols called the purchase “a rare opportunity to create a park on stunning bayfront property and preserve its environmental importance.”

Securing the land was years in the making. Former state Senator Nancy Skinner, now a member of the California Energy Commission, helped secure $36 million in the 2022–23 state budget for the project. Additional funding came from the Park District’s voter-approved revenue measures AA and WW.

“I am thrilled that Point Molate will now be preserved forever as public parkland,” Skinner said. “My thanks to the Guidiville Rancheria of California, the City of Richmond, and the East Bay Regional Park District for their role in protecting Point Molate for all to enjoy.”

The City of Richmond and the Guidiville Rancheria signed a letter of intent with the Park District last year to protect the site. The purchase and sale agreement followed in November 2024.

Amy Hutzel, executive officer of the California State Coastal Conservancy, called the acquisition a “once-in-a-lifetime opportunity” for shoreline access. “East Bay communities have been working toward this goal for many years,” she said.

The planning, design, and construction of park amenities are still years away and will include extensive community engagement.

Meanwhile, construction has already begun on the Point Molate Bay Trail Extension Project, a 2.5-mile segment that will connect Point Molate Beach Park to the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge path. The Park District is overseeing the project in partnership with the city, which owns about half the project area. Once finished, the extension will close a major gap in the Bay Trail.

For now, the acquisition marks a turning point in Point Molate’s long and often controversial history, which has included proposals ranging from a casino to housing. Advocates have long pushed for more shoreline access and ecological preservation.

“This is about creating a world-class park for current and future generations,” Echols said.

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