A park full of possibilities: the future of Alameda-Tesla real estate

Amid the rugged beauty of the Diablo Range, between the towns of Livermore and Tracy, lies a hidden treasure: the Alameda-Tesla Estate. For nearly two decades, this 3,100-acre park allowed limited public access – with its scenic nature views and dirt roads accessible only to a select few.

However, recent developments have signaled a shift when the California State Parks and Recreation Commission invited community members on April 17 for an exclusive tour of this enigmatic landscape.

The tour organized by the committee offered participants a rare glimpse into the park’s history and ambitions.

The Alameda-Tesla Property, located at 15751 Tesla Road, is overseen by the Diablo Range District Office and surrounded by private property. Parts of the park grounds can only be reached by four-wheel drive vehicles.

“This park property has the potential to serve a wide range of needs and communities throughout California,” said Elizabeth McGuirk, chief deputy director of California State Parks.

McGuirk emphasized the fact that the site’s location could serve residents of both the Central Valley and the Bay Area.

“As most of you know, this is a very important and unique building. This park will give us the opportunity to provide some of the recreational access we know is needed in the Central Valley, but also to serve the greater Bay Area community,” she said.

The site was originally acquired by the state parks department in the late 1990s with the intention of expanding the nearby Carnegie State Vehicular Recreation Area.

In 2021, state law banned its use for vehicular recreation. Now officials hope the park can reach its full potential.

With a vision to preserve the state’s natural resources, the parks department unveiled an ambitious multi-phase project aimed at rejuvenating the Alameda-Tesla property. The first two phases of the project are expected to span five years and include crucial elements such as park classification, drawing up a general plan and conducting an environmental impact assessment.

Phase I of the project, “Park Classification,” includes an in-depth assessment of site conditions and a recommendation for park classification.

According to state officials, this classification will play a critical role in determining the park’s purpose, allocated state resources, conservation efforts and permitted recreational activities.

Alexandra Stehl, deputy director of state parks strategic planning and recreation services, elaborated on this importance.

“Classification will help us develop and plan the types of activities that we know are appropriate on the ground,” Stehl said. “We want to make sure we get that classification right first before we move forward with planning.”

“The committee will hit the road again before taking action. The focus today is on what currently exists and then we will have that conversation when we actually develop a recommendation – we don’t have one yet,” Stehl added.

Because the area is too small to be declared a wilderness area, it is eligible to be classified as a state recreation area, state park, state preserve, or state historic site – each category having its own management and conservation implications.

Phase II of the project will include the development of a comprehensive master plan and environmental impact statement, which will guide future management decisions and ensure sustainable use of the park’s resources.

Through these efforts, officials say they aim to strike a balance between conservation and recreation, promoting a harmonious relationship between visitors and the natural environment.

The park’s wilderness provides a refuge for an interesting selection of plants and animals.

The area is home to 45 rare plant species, a vibrant Audubon bird population, golden eagles, mountain lions and five species of bats; the park also serves as a crucial habitat for numerous endangered species.

For now, government officials and regional wildlife experts are overseeing the park and its maintenance. Once the park opens for public recreational use, rangers are expected to conduct daily operations.

“We limit ourselves to maintaining the roads and trails so that we can get back into the park for fire safety,” said April Marson, State Parks sector manager. “We look at the invasive plants and animals and try to keep them at bay. We are trying to maintain our status quo on this issue until we have completed all our planning activities.”

Chief ranger for the Diablo Range District, Ryen Göring, reflected on the role of rangers in the park.

“We are generally the first responders on the scene because all of our parks are very remote. There are opportunities for rangers to gain a very varied experience throughout their career,” Göring explains. “It’s not a traditional police or sheriff, where you’re on patrol all the time. It will be hands-on, daily work.”

Officials shared a sense of optimism about the property’s future.

“Our goal is to inspire the public to connect and relate to the park so that they can protect it, care for it and continue it for generations to come,” said State Parks staff member Fiona Catalano.

With a crucial meeting scheduled for June 11 where the State Park and Recreation Commission will finalize the park’s name and classification, they said the journey to unlocking Tesla Park’s full potential is just beginning.

For more information about the State Parks Department, conservation efforts or visit the park site parks.ca.gov.

Related