On Tuesday, the Antioch City Council will discuss and select a park site in anticipation of grant funding through Proposition 4.
Under Proposition 4, approved in 2024, the funding is used for the expansion of recreational activities, construction and renovation of local parks, repairing existing state parks, addressing deferred maintenance backlogs and enhancing public access to nature.
To be eligible, the grant requires that there be less than 3 acres of parkland per 1,000 residents and/or residents are below median income within a ½ mile radius of a selected point within the project site.
Although the city has multiple locations that would qualify for the grant, the city has narrowed it down to the Beede Lumber Yard, which would add a burden to the city each year of $200k to $250k, or refurbish City Park which was last significantly updated 20-years ago.
Check Presentation at City Park in Dec. 2012
City Park
City Park was last significantly renovated more than 20 years ago and continues to serve as one of Antioch’s most heavily utilized park facilities. According to Placer.ai visitation data, City Park ranks as the City’s most visited park. The site presents an opportunity for a transformational community investment that could include improvements such as a synthetic turf field, an all-inclusive playground, renovated and fully operational restroom facilities, pickleball courts, enhanced gathering spaces, and other recreational amenities. Due to its central location, City Park also has the potential to generate income from user groups and continue to be a community hub
Editors Note – back in Sept. 2012, a fire destroyed the play structure which resulted in two teens arrested. Funds were raised, including $12k from Take Back Antioch, PG&E and Assemblyman Jim Frazier also donated to the rebuild. The park was later rebuilt and reopened.
The Beede Lumber Yard
The Beede Lumber Yard site is currently an undeveloped property located in Downtown Antioch. Preliminary community outreach and conceptual renderings for a future park at this location were completed in 2024. Development of the site would create a new public park and gathering space in the downtown area, further supporting community activation, recreation opportunities, and economic vitality.
While development of a new park at the Beede Lumber Yard site would result in additional annual maintenance and operational costs estimated between $200,000 and $250,000, public spaces in downtown areas can provide broader economic and community benefits by attracting visitors, supporting local businesses, and creating a “third place” for residents to gather outside of home and work.
Townsend Public Affairs Recommends City Park
According to the agenda, Townsend Public Affairs, it is recommending City Park be the project the city applies for. They City Park is definitively the most competitive project site across both selection criteria (lack of park space and significant poverty). While TPA and the City of Antioch considered multiple potential project sites, other options that were able to demonstrate significant poverty were less competitive in terms of park space, primarily due to their proximity to Corteva Wetlands Preserve and other large preservation areas.
Parks considered:
- City Park
- Contra Loma Estates Park
- Eagle Ridge Park
- Waldie Plaza
- Beede Lumber Yard
- Harbour Prk
- Memorial Field
- Canal Park
- Fairview Park
- Gentrytown Park
- Jacobsen Park
- Marchetti Park
- Prosserville Park
- Village East Park
- Vacant Lots 4th/5th St
Photo taken in Sept. 2015
Save the Yard Advocates All Bark, No Results
“Save the Yard” was a concept that was born with the idea of turning the former Beede Lumber Yard Property on 2nd Street into a public square/local park—which technically dates back to 2014, prior to the advocating for a park in late 2015.
In 2016, the City of Antioch was presented with a concept for townhomes on the Beede Lumber Yard site
When the city council agreed to an exclusive development opportunity on 9 properties, including building condos on the Beede Lumber Yard, at its Aug 25, 2015 council meeting. This 4-1 vote provoked “Save the Yard” into action where 75 residents marched from The Yard to City Hall—including 30 public comments. The group attempted to collect signatures to place an item on the ballot, but failed twice to get it on the ballot due to lack of signatures.
Save the Yard Proposal
In November 2021, the city council finally received a presentation from Save the Yard on what a Town Square proposal would look like. Then in July 2022, the city hired a consulting firm at $350k for a design. By January 2024, the city announced two workshops on the Beede Lumber Yard.
As of August 2026, the lot still sits as dirt — even after 12 years of advocacy.
Advocates in support of developing the property into a mixed-use commercial say it would be an asset to the city because it would increase tax revenues vs. costing taxpayers, lead more people to the downtown and reduce blight.
If You Go
Antioch City Council Meeting
Tuesday, August 11
4:30 pm – Closed Session
7:00 pm – Regular Meeting
200 H St, Antioch CA
Agenda: Click Here
Previous
- Jan 16, 2024 – Antioch to Hold Design Workshops on Beede Lumber Yard
- July 25, 2022 – Antioch City Council to Hire Design Firm for Beede Lumber Yard, Talk RV Parking and Homeless Hotel
- Nov. 2, 2021 – Antioch City Council Agree to Hear Presentation for Beede Lumber Yard Town Square Proposal
- Oct. 13, 2016 – Antioch Save the Yard Group Begins Town Square Signature Gathering for New Initiative
- Aug. 10, 2016 – Save the Yard Group Vows to Start New Petition, Seek Special Election
- July 20, 2016 – Antioch: Save the Yard Petition Fails to Collect Enough Signatures for Ballot Initiative
- Jan, 2016 – Save the Yard Advocates Submit Ballot Initiative to Save Beede Lumber Yard
- Sept. 2015 – Antioch Residents Look to Continue Fight for Historic Beede Lumber Yard, Prevent 18-Condos
