The East Bay Regional Park District purchased 82 acres at Point Molate, securing the shoreline property in Richmond for preservation. The land was acquired from the Guidiville Rancheria of California for $40 million.
“This is a remarkable milestone for the entire Bay Area,” said Park District General Manager Sabrina Landreth. “Thank you to our partners who have supported the goal of preserving Point Molate as public parkland and helped make the acquisition possible.”
In July last year, the Park District, the City of Richmond, and the Guidiville Rancheria signed a letter of intent committing to preserve the property. A Purchase and Sale Agreement followed on Nov. 24, 2024, with the acquisition formally completed Tuesday, Aug. 26, 2025.
“Acquiring the property is a huge step toward creating a new park at Point Molate,” said East Bay Regional Park District Board Director Elizabeth Echols. “This acquisition provides a rare opportunity to create a park on stunning bay front property and preserve its environmental importance and significant cultural history, including Native American sacred sites, a historic Chinese fishing village, and Winehaven, which was once known as the world’s largest winery.”
She added: “Many thanks to our partners, elected leaders, community members, and Park District staff for working tirelessly to further our shared vision of developing a world-class park at Point Molate for current and future generations to enjoy.”
The $40 million purchase was largely enabled by state funding. Former state Sen. Nancy Skinner, now a California Energy Commissioner, secured $36 million in the 2022–23 state budget, administered as a grant to the Park District by the California State Coastal Conservancy in November 2024. The remainder 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 and open space,” 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.”
Planning and securing funding for future park amenities will take several years and will include extensive public engagement, according to the Park District.
Work is already underway to expand access. Aug. 1 marked the start of construction for the Point Molate Bay Trail Extension Project. The trail extension is a collaboration involving EBRPD, the City of Richmond, and Chevron Richmond, to connect the city’s Point Molate Beach Park to the Richmond–San Rafael Bridge. The city owns 1.25 miles of the project area, while 1.1 miles is located on Chevron property. Chevron Richmond donated a trail easement enabling public access to its land. The extension is described as a major step toward opening Point Molate to more visitors and strengthening regional connectivity along the San Francisco Bay Trail.