Governor Signs Sen. Dodd’s Camp Coombs Park Bill

SACRAMENTO – Sen. Bill Dodd, D-Napa, today announced Gov. Gavin Newsom signed his legislation to allow the state of California to sell land at Napa State Hospital known as Camp Coombs to the County of Napa for inclusion in Skyline Wilderness Park.

“With the stroke of his pen, Gov. Newsom has added an incredible piece of land to Skyline Wilderness Park will be a huge benefit to the community,” Sen. Dodd said. “It will expand outdoor opportunities for Napa County residents and ensure the property remains preserved for future generations. Clearly, it is the best use of this land, improving recreational selection and environmental preservation.”

Under Sen. Dodd’s Senate Bill 958, the 80-acre Camp Coombs property would also be authorized for sale to the county for public parkland and open space. The 850-acre Skyline Wilderness Park is currently owned by the state, but is leased and managed by the county. In order to ensure Skyline is always used as a park, Sen. Dodd previously passed a bill in 2019 to allow it to be sold to the county. That transfer is expected to happen in the coming months. The adjacent Camp Coombs property has not been open to the public and is no longer utilized by Napa State Hospital. The sale of Camp Coombs would come after the transfer of the existing Skyline Wilderness Park and could happen before the end of the year.

SB 958 was approved by the Assembly and Senate before being signed by the governor.

“We are thrilled that Sen. Dodd’s legislation to facilitate the acquisition of Camp Coombs within Skyline Park has been approved by the governor,” said Joelle Gallagher, chair of the Napa County Board of Supervisors. “This is an incredible step forward for our community. It builds on his 2019 legislation, which allowed us to make significant progress in securing Skyline Park. Our dedication to safeguarding this vital community asset for current and future generations remains unwavering. With this 850-acre property offering immense recreational and environmental value, we are more excited than ever to ensure it stays under local control, preserving it for years to come.”

The bill is also coauthored by Assembly Majority Leader Cecilia Aguiar-Curry, D-Winters.

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Senator Bill Dodd represents the 3rd Senate District, which includes all or portions of Napa, Yolo, Sonoma, Solano, Sacramento and Contra Costa counties. More information on Senator Bill Dodd can be found at www.senate.ca.gov/dodd.