East Bay Regional Park District is developing a new 6.5-acre waterfront park in Tidewater to handle growing demand from a region that's added over a million residents in the past two decades.

The park will feature a nature-themed playground built from logs and boulders rather than traditional equipment, part of a national trend toward unstructured outdoor play. An outdoor classroom will anchor the space, which also includes picnic areas, new walking paths, and a four-stall restroom building.

A fenced boat storage area with an automatic gate addresses Bay Area boaters who struggle to find launch access along an increasingly developed shoreline. The parking lot will include EV charging stations, reflecting California's 2020 executive order phasing out gas vehicle sales by 2035 and the state's push to install chargers in public spaces.

The project is funded through local sources, likely including revenue from Measure FF, a 2018 parcel tax that generates roughly $12 million annually for the district. East Bay Regional Park District manages over 125,000 acres across Alameda and Contra Costa counties, serving 2.8 million residents in one of the country's most expensive metro areas.

The district has prioritized shoreline access as sea level rise threatens existing infrastructure while creating demand for climate-resilient parks. The Tidewater project is part of a broader expansion strategy that has drawn criticism in a region facing severe housing shortages, with some arguing park acquisition competes with residential development.

Contractor selection is underway, with questions due February 9, 2026. The project requires prevailing wage pay under California labor law.