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.”…