The Bay Point Restoration and Public Access Project was initiated with goals of restoring ecological habitat, providing public access and long-term climate resiliency at a former sand dredge processing site in the waterfront community of Bay Point along the southern shoreline of Suisun Bay, in northern Contra Costa County, California. The project hydrologically reconnected the site to adjacent tidal emergent marsh and restored transitional and upland habitat. Public access improvements included a 1-mile loop trail, kayak launch, parking, restroom, and other visitor amenities. Providing public access was a primary project focus because the Bay Point community represents one of the most underserved areas in the region, with residents experiencing social and financial hardships with scarce access to outdoor recreation and interpretive opportunities. A key finding of the project is that restored habitat in close proximity to public access can be compatible land uses as evidenced by California black rail (Laterallus jamaicensis coturniculus) occupying the restored area shortly after construction. The California Back Rail is listed as a California threatened species. Bay Point Regional Shoreline provides habitat for several special status species including the salt marsh harvest mouse, white-tailed kite, northern harrier, salt marsh common yellowthroat, and Suisun song sparrow. Analysis of systematically obtained call count data, collected during the breeding seasons of 2020 to the present is showing a positive trend of increasing California black rail occupancy in the restoration area. Field research is showing that the California black rail population is now three times higher in this recently restored wetland, which may aid recovery efforts elsewhere designed to enhance breeding habitat for this threatened species and provide public access.