State Parks Moves to Add 765 Acres at Eldridge to Jack London State Historic Park Plan

ELDRIDGE, Sonoma County — California State Parks has begun a formal planning step toward incorporating the former Sonoma Developmental Center open space into Jack London State Historic Park.

What changed in October

In an October 14, 2026 update, the agency said its Bay Area District supervisors, working with Jack London Park Partners, submitted paperwork the previous month to amend the historic park’s General Plan. The requested amendment would include about 765 acres of SDC open-space property in Eldridge and bring the combined park area above 2,200 acres.

The open-space property is already under California State Parks management following a transfer begun in 2024. The October announcement concerns the park’s official planning framework; it is not an announcement that the state is buying the same land again from a private seller.

Who would manage the land?

State Parks says Jack London Park Partners would continue operating Jack London State Historic Park while state staff would keep managing the former SDC open-space property. The two areas share trails, environmental resources and a landscape important for wildlife movement.

What about the buildings on Arnold Drive?

The approximately 180-acre former institutional campus, where a redevelopment proposal is under review, is distinct from the much larger open-space area addressed by the proposed park-plan amendment. Residents should not interpret the October notice as approval of housing or a hotel on the former institutional campus.

What comes next

A General Plan amendment must proceed through its own planning and public review. State Parks has described the direction it is taking, but the October news item does not establish a final amendment approval date. Residents can follow the SDC Open Space webpage for details about access, recreation and future decisions.

Source: California State Parks, SDC Open Space News and Updates, October 14, 2026. No government maps or third-party photos reproduced.

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