Photo above: Boats and docks at the Pittsburg Marina in Pittsburg, California, 2022. Armenshirazd, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Mostly the water, Old Town and the parks. Pittsburg has a 575-slip city marina on the Delta, a harbor park and boat launch that reopened in July 2026, a restored 1920 theater on Railroad Avenue in Old Town, an 8-acre rides park called Small World Park, and Black Diamond Mines Regional Preserve just south of town.

Here’s where to go, what’s there, and where to check dates before you head out.

What is there to do on the Pittsburg waterfront?

Boating, paddling, fishing and a few waterfront events a year. The Pittsburg Marina at 51 East Marina Boulevard has 575 slips, two boarding floats, fuel, a pump-out and a restaurant (California State Parks, Division of Boating and Waterways, Pittsburg Marina page, checked September 24, 2026).

  • Launch a boat or a kayak. The marina has two concrete boat ramps for trailered boats and an accessible small-boat launch next to the Harbormaster Office, open to the public on request daily from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The city rents kayaks and stand-up paddleboards there (Bay Water Trail, Pittsburg Marina trailhead page, checked September 24, 2026).
  • Know the water. The same page warns that wind and current on the rivers can be strong, especially in summer, and that cargo ships use the shipping lanes outside the marina. Browns Island Regional Shoreline sits across New York Slough from the marina, but there is no public access to the island.
  • Eat by the launch. The Waterfront Grill and Cafe sits beside the small-boat launch (Bay Water Trail page, checked September 24, 2026).
  • Events. The Bay Water Trail page lists marina events including Fourth of July fireworks viewing, a seafood festival, a music in the park series and a classic car show. Dates change each year, so check the marina’s events page at pittsburgmarina.com before you plan around one.

What changed at Central Harbor Park?

Almost everything. The park and boat launch north of Marina Boulevard reopened to the public on July 1, 2026, and the city held a grand reopening on July 26, 2026 (City of Pittsburg Marina, Central Harbor Park page, and City of Pittsburg news release, July 26, 2026, both checked September 25, 2026). The rebuild added:

  • accessible paths, new shade and seating
  • a fish cleaning station and fishing upgrades
  • public fire pits and two new public restrooms
  • better lighting, repaved parking and a public safety substation

The city says it was paid for with two Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Conservancy grants, including over $3.5 million in Conservancy program funds, plus the city’s Waterfront Fund. The City Council picked the builder on August 19, 2024, and work started that fall (City of Pittsburg Marina, Central Harbor Park and Boat Launch Facilities Upgrade page, checked September 25, 2026).

What is there to do in Old Town Pittsburg?

A night at the theater, a meal on or near Railroad Avenue, and a walk to the water. The anchor is the California Theatre at 351 Railroad Avenue. It opened in 1920 for vaudeville and silent films, closed in 1954, and came back after a $7.6 million restoration (Pittsburg California Theatre, About the Theatre page, checked September 25, 2026). Check its Upcoming Events page for the current lineup. Box office: (925) 427-1611.

One more Old Town note: the city wants to better connect Old Town to the marina. In spring 2024 it held design workshops, one at the Marina Community Center and one on April 4 at E.J. Phair Brewing, and hired the architecture firm Hunt Hale and Jones (City of Pittsburg news release, April 5, 2024, checked September 25, 2026). We found no finished plan yet.

What parks does Pittsburg have?

27 city parks, according to the city’s recreation department, most of them first come, first served (City of Pittsburg Recreation, Parks and Facilities page, checked September 25, 2026). A few worth knowing:

  • Small World Park. An 8-acre park with small carnival rides, a train that circles the park, a Ferris wheel, a kids zipline, playgrounds, ponds and crawdad fishing. Rides run seasonally. In 2026 that meant Thursday through Sunday in summer, then weekends only from August 8 to October 25 (City of Pittsburg Recreation, Small World Park page, checked September 25, 2026).
  • Buchanan Park. Home of the city’s Buchanan Swim Center, which the city rents for private parties. The city says it isn’t taking Buchanan Park picnic reservations right now because of ongoing maintenance (same page).
  • Marina Community Center. Reopened in spring 2023 after a $1.5 million Measure M renovation, with a gym for basketball, pickleball, volleyball and futsal, a batting cage, and three classrooms (City of Pittsburg Recreation, Marina Community Center page, checked September 25, 2026).

One city note: fields and picnic areas close every December and January, and Stoneman Trailhead Park has been closed since August 1, 2024 (City of Pittsburg Recreation, Parks and Facilities page, checked September 25, 2026).

Where can I hike near Pittsburg?

Black Diamond Mines Regional Preserve, right at the south edge of town. It covers nearly 8,533 acres, with its main entrance at 5175 Somersville Road in Antioch. The Greathouse Visitor Center is open Fridays 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and weekends 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and weekend Coal Mine Experience tours need advance sign-up. Parking is $5 per vehicle when the kiosk is staffed (East Bay Regional Park District, Black Diamond Mines page, checked September 24, 2026).

Questions people also ask

Is there a marina in Pittsburg, CA?

Yes. The Pittsburg Marina at 51 East Marina Boulevard is a city-run marina with 575 slips, fuel, a pump-out station, two boat ramps and an accessible kayak launch, per California State Parks and the Bay Water Trail, checked September 24, 2026. The city rents kayaks and stand-up paddleboards there, and a restaurant sits beside the launch.

When did Central Harbor Park reopen?

Central Harbor Park and its boat launch, on the Pittsburg waterfront north of Marina Boulevard, reopened to the public on July 1, 2026, and the city held a grand reopening on July 26, 2026. The rebuild added accessible paths, shade, fire pits, restrooms and a fish cleaning station, funded mostly by Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Conservancy grants, per the city.

What is Small World Park in Pittsburg?

Small World Park is an 8-acre city park in Pittsburg with small carnival rides, a train ride around the park, a Ferris wheel, a kids zipline, playgrounds, ponds and crawdad fishing, per the City of Pittsburg Recreation site. The rides run on a seasonal schedule, weekends only from August 8 to October 25 in 2026, so check the city’s recreation page before you go.

What shows are at the California Theatre in Pittsburg?

The California Theatre at 351 Railroad Avenue in Old Town hosts plays, concerts and comedy nights. It opened in 1920 and reopened after a $7.6 million restoration, per the theater’s site checked September 25, 2026. Check its Upcoming Events page for dates, or call the box office at (925) 427-1611.

Your next step

Want to see how close a home is to the marina, Old Town or BART? Send us the addresses you’re weighing and we’ll map them out for you, with recent sales for each. Talk to a Pittsburg agent on our team or call (510) 949-5525.

More on Pittsburg: Is Pittsburg, CA a good place to live? · How much does a house cost in Pittsburg? · Search Pittsburg homes · What’s my home worth?

By Bill Davis, DRE #01880656, The Davis Team at eXp Realty, Pittsburg, CA. Updated September 24, 2026.

Sources

  • California State Parks, Division of Boating and Waterways, Pittsburg Marina: dbw.parks.ca.gov/BoatingFacilities/f/454 (checked September 24, 2026)
  • San Francisco Bay Area Water Trail, Pittsburg Marina trailhead: sfbaywatertrail.org/trailhead/pittsburg-marina (checked September 24, 2026)
  • City of Pittsburg Marina, Central Harbor Park and Boat Launch Facilities Upgrade Project: pittsburgmarina.com/about-the-pittsburg-marina/2024-2025-facilities-upgrade-project (checked September 25, 2026)
  • City of Pittsburg, “Recap: City of Pittsburg Celebrates Central Harbor Park and Boat Launch Facility Grand Reopening,” July 26, 2026: pittsburgca.gov news item 3708 (checked September 25, 2026)
  • Pittsburg California Theatre, About the Theatre and Upcoming Events: pittsburgcaliforniatheatre.com (checked September 25, 2026)
  • City of Pittsburg, “Pittsburg Hosts Community Meetings to Establish Renewed Vision for Old Town and Marina,” April 5, 2024: pittsburgca.gov news item 3416 (checked September 25, 2026)
  • City of Pittsburg Recreation, Parks and Facilities, Small World Park and Marina Community Center pages: pittsburgrec.com (checked September 25, 2026)
  • East Bay Regional Park District, Black Diamond Mines Regional Preserve: ebparks.org/parks/black-diamond (checked September 24, 2026)