Overview
South of Bailey Road is the name for an approximately 890-acre site that is a sub-set of the greater Thurgood Marshall Regional Park – Home of the Port Chicago 50, in Concord, California. About 40% of the land is dedicated to habitat restoration, while the remaining acreage is being opened to the public. Twenty empty, former U.S. Navy ammunitions magazines remain scattered throughout the grassland savannah landscape. Passive recreational improvements to support hiking, biking and picnicking will be provided to remain consistent with habitat restoration goals.
Site Description
The South of Bailey Road public access project has four major project goals identified in the 2020 Thurgood Marshall Regional Park Land Use Plan:
- Staging – includes parking for autos, buses, equestrian trailers and bicycles.
- Amenities - provides a variety of drop in picnic areas with options for shade. Restrooms, drinking fountains and site furnishings.
- Trails - Convert existing roadways and rail lines to create trail loops.
- Interpretation – Install Interpretive elements to educate the public on themes of war and peace, civil rights, natural history and stewardship of the land.
- Habitat Restoration - Removal of existing roads that impede wildlife migration.
Other goals include a more welcoming entry at the intersection of South Park Drive (Kinne Blvd) and Bailey Road, and planting Oak trees from acorns harvested on site.
The project has CEQA coverage under the adopted 2020 Land Use Plan / Environmental Impact Report.
Timeline
Construction is anticipated to start in 2025.