[1] From 1903 to the early 1940s, the site of the park was the east end of the Key System mole, a long causeway and pier which once extended nearly to Yerba Buena Island.

The park is the culmination of decades of cooperation between a nine member consortium of local, regional, and state agencies, which includes the City of Oakland, the Association of Bay Area Governments, the East Bay Regional Park District, and the California Department of Transportation.

[2] The park is named after Judge John Sutter, an East Bay civic and environmental leader who led a long career as a superior court judge, as Oakland's vice mayor, and as former East Bay Regional Park District Director.

He was the president and a founding member of Citizens for Regional Recreation and Parks and was instrumental in obtaining and preserving public access to the bay shoreline.

[3] The park features the newly renovated Bridge Yard building, which serves as a hub for activity and as a venue for public events and conferences.