Rep. Liccardo & Sen. Padilla Introduce Bill to Expand the Golden Gate National Recreation Area in San Mateo County

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Representative Sam Liccardo (CA-16) and U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (Calif.) introduced legislation to expand and improve the Golden Gate National Recreation Area (GGNRA). The bicameral bill would expand the boundaries of the GGNRA and allow the National Park Service to acquire the 896-acre Scarper Ridge property in San Mateo County – between El Granada and 280 – adjacent to Rancho Corral De Tierra. The 3,858-acre site is already managed by the Park Service. The bill previously passed the Senate by unanimous consent in December 2024.

 

“My ancestor, José Francisco Ortega, trudged near Scarper Ridge while exploring the sweeping expanse of these hills as a scout on the Portolá Expedition in the 1770s — the first non-indigenous person to hike through this mountain range or to see the San Francisco Bay from land. While I will never witness this landscape in the pristine context that Ortega did, I have introduced this legislation to protect Scarper Ridge and its breathtaking coastal vistas for future generations,” said Representative Liccardo.

 

“The Golden Gate National Recreation Area is one of the most popular urban parks in the world, flush with rich biodiversity, extensive military artifacts, and stunning recreational opportunities,” said Senator Padilla. “Expanding the park’s boundary to incorporate the Scarper Ridge Property would allow the National Park Service to help protect critically threatened and endangered plants and wildlife, while connecting public lands and hiking trails for locals and visitors alike to enjoy.”

 

“We are grateful to Congressman Liccardo and Senator Padilla for carrying on the work started by Congresswoman Eshoo and Senator Padilla to expand and improve the Golden Gate National Recreation Area on the San Mateo County Coast. With help from public and private funds, POST bought this 896-acre property in 2014. Because of its unique habitats, species of wildlife, and opportunities for public trails, we have long hoped it would be incorporated into the Rancho Corral de Tierra landscape. Having champions like Senator Padilla and Congressman Liccardo at the Federal level is vital so that biodiverse coastal areas like these are preserved for Californians to enjoy forever,” said Gordon Clark, President of Peninsula Open Space Trust (POST).

 

The Golden Gate National Recreation Area consists of more than 80,000 acres of diverse properties managed by the National Park Service across three Bay Area counties that include historic sites, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, and open space for outdoor recreation. In addition to famous landmarks like Alcatraz Island and the Presidio of San Francisco, the park includes hundreds of acres of open space on the San Mateo County Coastside.