Naval Hospital Heliport

The closure was a direct result of the 1993 Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) Commission recommendations. This was part of a broader, post-Cold War effort by the U.S. Department of Defense to downsize its infrastructure, reduce operating costs, and consolidate military medical services.

The site of the former Naval Hospital and its heliport has been completely demolished. The iconic 11-story hospital tower was imploded in 2011. The entire 183-acre property is undergoing extensive redevelopment into a large master-planned community known as 'Oak Knoll' by developer SunCal. The project includes the construction of hundreds of single-family homes and townhomes, 57 acres of public parks and open space, a restored Rifle Range Creek, and a neighborhood retail center. Construction of the new residential community is well underway.

The Naval Hospital Heliport was an integral component of the U.S. Naval Hospital Oakland, commonly known as Oak Knoll. Commissioned in 1942, the hospital was a premier military medical center on the West Coast, treating tens of thousands of service members from World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War. The heliport's primary and critical function was to handle medical evacuation (MEDEVAC) flights. It enabled the rapid transport of critically ill or injured patients from ships at sea, other military bases like Travis Air Force Base and Naval Air Station Alameda, and regional accident sites directly to the specialized care facilities at Oak Knoll, significantly improving survival rates.

There are zero plans or prospects for reopening the heliport. The military base has been fully decommissioned, all original infrastructure has been removed, and the land has been transferred to civilian control for private residential and commercial development. The current and future land use is incompatible with any form of aviation operations.