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Amidst the rugged beauty of the Diablo Range, between the cities of Livermore and Tracy, lies a hidden treasure: the Alameda-Tesla property. For almost two decades this 3,100-acre park has 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 as the California State Parks and Recreation Commission extended an invitation to members of the community for an exclusive tour of the enigmatic landscape on April 17.
The tour, organized by the commission, provided participants with a rare glimpse into the history and aspirations for the park.
Situated at 15751 Tesla Road, the Alameda-Tesla property is overseen by the Diablo Range District Office and is surrounded by private property. Parts of the park’s terrain can only be reached by four-wheel-drive vehicles.
“This park property has the potential to serve very diverse needs and communities throughout California,” said Elizabeth McGuirk, chief deputy director of California State Parks.
McGuirk highlighted the fact that the location of the site would be able to serve residents of the Central Valley as well as the Bay Area.
“As most of you know, this is a very important and unique property. This park will provide an opportunity for us to help to provide some of that recreational access we know is needed in the Central Valley, but also serve the greater Bay Area community as well,” 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 legislation barred its utilization for vehicular recreation. Now, officials hope the park can serve 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 project’s first two phases are anticipated to span five years and encompass crucial elements such as park classification, drafting of a general plan, and conducting an environmental impact assessment.
Phase I of the project, “Park Classification,” entails an in-depth evaluation of site conditions and a recommendation for the property’s definition.
According to state officials, the classification will play a pivotal role in determining the park’s purpose, allotted state resources, conservation efforts, and permissible recreational activities.
Alexandra Stehl, state parks deputy director of strategic planning and recreation services, elaborated on the significance.
“Classification will help lead us in developing and planning the type of activities that we know will be appropriate on the property,” Stehl said. “We want to make sure we get that classification right first before we move forward with planning.”
“The commission will be back out again before they take any action. The focus today is on what currently exists and then we’ll have that conversation when we actually develop a recommendation — we don’t have one yet,” Stehl added.
Due to the area being too small to be declared a wilderness area, it is qualified to be classified as a state recreation area, state park, state reserve or a state historical site — each category carrying its own implications for management and preservation.
Phase II of the project will see the development of a comprehensive general plan and environmental impact report, guiding future management decisions and ensuring sustainable utilization of the park’s resources.
Through these efforts, officials said they aim to strike a balance between conservation and recreation, fostering a harmonious relationship between visitors and the natural environment.
The park’s wilderness offers a sanctuary 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 bat species; the park also serves as a crucial habitat for numerous endangered species.
As for now, state officials and regional wildlife experts oversee the park and its upkeep. Once the park becomes open for public recreational use, it is expected that rangers will be handling daily operations.
“We’re limited to the maintenance for the roads and trails so that we can get back into the park for fire safety,” said April Marson, State Parks sector manager. “We’re looking at the invasive plants and animals and trying to keep those at bay. We are trying to keep our status quo at this point until we get all of our planning activities done.”
Chief ranger for the Diablo Range District, Ryen Goering, reflected on the role of rangers in the park.
“We’re generally going to be the first responders on scene because all of our parks are very remote. There’s these opportunities for rangers to get a really varied experience throughout their career,” Goering explained. “It’s not a traditional police or sheriff, where you’re kind of just stuck on patrol all the time. This will be hands-on, day-to-day work.”
Officials shared a sense of optimism for the property’s future.
“Our goal is to inspire the public to connect and relate to the park so that in the future they can protect and care for it and continue it for many generations,” said State Parks staff member Fiona Catalano.
With a pivotal meeting slated for June 11 where the State Parks and Recreation Commission will finalize the park’s name and classification, they said the journey toward unlocking the full potential of Tesla Park has only just begun.
To learn more about the State Parks Department, its conservation efforts or the park site, visit parks.ca.gov.
Editor’s note: A prior version of this story misattributed the source of two photographs. The Embarcadero Media Foundation East Bay Division regrets the error.
