Park District Gets 2,216 Acres At Concord Naval Weapons Station

CONCORD, CA – A public event is set for Saturday to celebrate the East Bay Regional Park District's historic acceptance of 2,216 acres of former Concord Naval Weapons Station land from the U.S. Navy. The land transfer was publicly announced Tuesday, July 9 and comes after more than 20 years of community support and involvement.

"Conveyance of the property to the Park District is the culmination of a decades-long community effort," said Beverly Lane, who has represented Concord on the East Bay Regional Park District board since 1994. "This is a proud moment for the Park District and shows the great power of persistence and working together with the community."

The U.S. Navy, National Park Service, city of Concord and the Save Mount Diablo group have all "been tremendous partners in this effort," Lane added.

Tuesday's announcement comes after the Park District Board of Directors on July 2 unanimously approved accepting the land from the U.S. Navy. The board action authorized the Park District to accept conveyance of the property and fee title ownership.

Transfer of ownership to the Park District is expected to take six months, with an additional 327 acres set to transfer to the Park District at a later date.

"This is a great day for the Park District and East Bay residents," said East Bay Regional Park District General Manager Robert Doyle. "The public will have access to great future park amenities, including a visitor center, staging areas, access points, and miles of recreational trails for hiking, biking, and nature viewing."

Park development is expected to take several years and will require significant financial resources, according to Doyle.

"There is no timetable on development," Doyle said. "With this new land, we will have a regional park that is larger than Tilden Park, that is protected for future generations forever."

A public celebration is scheduled from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, July 13 at the former Concord Naval Weapons Station. The event will also commemorate the 75th Anniversary of the Port Chicago Explosion.

The celebration will include a panel discussion hosted by the Friends of Port Chicago National Memorial and National Park Service, a conveyance ceremony, presentations, exhibit booths, lunch and a music performance by the Acalanes High School Jazz Quartet.

The public celebration Saturday will also include walking and vehicle tours of the property, giving attendees a first look at the future regional park.

Those planning on attending the July 13 event are asked to RSVP to Yulie Padmore via email at ypadmore@ebparks.org or by calling 510-544-2002.