A Different Kind of Park

Along the Eastshore waterfront, parks have traditionally been defined by preservation and access—often resulting in landscapes that are static and unresponsive to changing conditions. Golden Gate Fields offers the chance to expand that model—to create a park that is as active as it is ecological—and as dynamic as it is restorative. 

As the site transitions to public ownership following The Trust for Public Land’s agreement to purchase the property for $175 million, the question is not simply whether it becomes a park—it is how we create one that works for the widest swath of the community and for the next generation of park users. 

It also prompts a critical question: should we erase the site before fully understanding what it offers—and how it fits within its broader context? There may be elements, both physical and cultural, worth retaining and celebrating that can dynamically shape the park and its program. 

This is not just a land use decision. It is an opportunity to move beyond familiar models of shoreline parks and build something more ambitious: a public landscape that is active, economically viable, and ecologically resilient.