The East Bay Regional Park District (EBRPD) announced Tuesday it has completed its $40 million acquisition of 82 acres at Point Molate in Richmond, permanently preserving the historic bayfront property as public parkland.
The purchase from the Guidiville Rancheria of California is the culmination of a years-long effort to protect the shoreline site on the Point San Pablo Peninsula.
“This is a remarkable milestone for the entire Bay Area,” EBRPD General Manager Sabrina Landreth said in a press release. “Thank you to our partners who have supported the goal of preserving Point Molate as public parkland and helped make the acquisition possible.”
The acquisition began with a Letter of Intent signed in July 2024 between the park district, city of Richmond and Guidiville Rancheria. A Purchase and Sale Agreement was executed Nov. 24, 2024.
Former state Sen. Nancy Skinner, during her tenure, secured $36 million in the 2022-23 California budget, administered as a grant by the California State Coastal Conservancy. The remaining funding came from the park district’s voter-approved revenue measures.
“I am thrilled that Point Molate will now be preserved forever as public parkland and open space,” said Skinner, who now serves as commissioner of the California Energy Commission.
The property includes significant cultural and historical features, including Native American sacred sites, a historic Chinese fishing village and Winehaven, once called the world’s largest winery.
Park district board director Elizabeth Echols described the acquisition as “a rare opportunity to create a park on stunning bay front property and preserve its environmental importance and significant cultural history.”
Construction began Aug. 1 on a 2.5-mile Bay Trail extension that will connect Point Molate Beach Park to the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge. The trail project is a partnership between the park district and Richmond.
Planning for park amenities is expected to take several years and will include significant public engagement, officials said.
I’ve lived in the East Bay for 20+ years. Just stumbled onto Point Molate park and Point San Pablo in the last month. Have been taking people there every week since. Amazing history. Winehaven and the barracks have early San Francisco Presidio vibes.
Very glad the decision was made to preserve it as a natural preserve. It’s now my favorite place to go watch the birds and the bridge, only a few feet away from the Bay.