Lawmakers press agencies on $125 million Prop 4 ask to acquire Golden Gate Fields site

The Assembly Budget Subcommittee spent extensive time on an administration proposal to provide up to $125 million from the Proposition 4 climate bond as a maximum state contribution toward acquiring 161 acres at the Golden Gate Fields racetrack for park, habitat and shoreline access. Amy Hutzall, executive officer of the State Coastal Conservancy, said an independent appraisal placed the property at $175 million and that the appraisal and independent review are now with the Department of General Services.

"We have reviewed applications from Trust for Public Land and East Bay Regional Park District," Hutzall said, noting the project aligns with Coastal Conservancy priorities for public access, habitat restoration and Bay Trail completion. Jennifer Norris, executive director of the Wildlife Conservation Board, said WCB is reviewing grant applications and that the project would go through their competitive processes.

Committee members pressed for detail on urgency and competitive treatment: several lawmakers noted the project was not in the January budget and asked why it was elevated in May. Agency witnesses said timing is driven by a purchase-option window and that signaling a state funding commitment can leverage philanthropic and local funds to close an otherwise time-limited deal. Secretary Wade Crowfoot and Coastal Conservancy staff said deed restrictions and negotiated purposes would ensure public access and habitat restoration if state funds are used.

Why this matters: The proposal uses a finite Prop 4 pool and would allocate $125 million that could otherwise fund other coastal resilience or habitat projects. Members raised equity and prioritization concerns, pointing out that some nearby neighborhoods are not demonstrably "park-poor" and asking whether dedicated match language should require firm commitments rather than "up to" amounts from philanthropic partners.

Next steps: Agencies said they would continue to coordinate with Trust for Public Land, East Bay Regional Park District and other partners to secure nonstate match and to bring more detailed grant and acquisition paperwork back to the Legislature as the process moves forward. The committee did not take a vote on the appropriation during the hearing.