Skyline Park is just the governor’s signature away from being on the county’s list of hot property buys.

A bill that would allow the county to purchase Skyline Park from the state — saving it from the specter of being sold to a developer as surplus state property — passed the Assembly Tuesday by a 60-7 margin, ending its journey through the Legislature after having passed the state Senate in June.

The bill, authored by state Sen. Pat Wiggins, D-Santa Rosa, gives the county the first opportunity to purchase the 850-acre park near Napa State Hospital. Four years ago the state looked to sell the park as surplus property to another party.

Already, the county has been planning to spend some revenues from tourist tax increases to buy the park over a few years through the newly created Napa County Regional Parks and Opens Space District.

“Skyline Park is a special place, a 28-year-old 850 acres of hiking, riding and bicycling trails, a native plant garden, horse arena, archery range and a disc golf course,” Wiggins said in a statement. “I think that local control offers the best chance for preserving this land as a park, and I am hopeful that Governor Schwarzenegger will sign my bill into law.”

The bill, SB 678, also requires Napa County to retain title to the entire property for use as a park or wilderness preserve. Plus, if the county ever decides to sell the land, SB 678 mandates the county restrict future land uses as the same in place now.

Last year a similar bill was vetoed by Schwarzenegger because it required the state to launch an environmental review of the property prior to a sale. This year’s bill did not include that requirement.

Assemblywoman Noreen Evans, D-Santa Rosa, helped push the bill in the Assembly.

“Skyline Park is a beloved public recreation destination,” she said in a statement. “This bill will help us preserve the park for future generations.”