after many attempts at commercial development, in 1968 the main portion of the island was purchased by the east bay regional park district from a family trust for $625,000, funded by grants from the federal department of housing and urban development and california state recreation and park bond. ebrpd later added surrounding tide lands to this initial purchase and the city of richmond purchased the sand spit and adjoining water lots. the state purchased the final private lot on the sand spit in 1985, with a plan for this to be leased to ebrpd.