The Sobrante Park Renovation is a community led project to revitalize the existing park into a vibrant and positive community resource, providing safe and engaging play and gathering opportunities for residents. Funded by California Proposition 68 Statewide Park Development and Community Revitalization Program (SPP) the park will include refurbished picnic tables, playground equipment, surfacing, and new nature walking paths and community resource center!
Renovation Design Sobrante Mini Park 7.15.19
Sobrante Park is small existing mini park located within the Sobrante Park neighborhood of East Oakland. It sits next to residential neighborhoods to the east and south sides, and local charter elementary and high school campuses on the west and north, making it a natural gathering place for families, kids, and neighbors. For years, the pars, the parks existing features have been damaged, vandalized, worn out and in need of attention meaning the park is underutilized by the neighborhood.
The Sobrante Park Renovation project grew from a community-driven advocacy process that began in 2019. Local community groups, including the Sobrante Park Resident Action Council (SPRAC), Beat 3 1Z Neighborhood Crime Prevention Council (NCPC), and others, gathered to discuss potential improvements to the park. The renovation is part of a broader multi-year collaboration between the City of Oakland and the East Oakland Neighborhoods Initiative (EONI) and is one of five projects supported by the Transformative Communities (TCC) grant. These projects represent a collaborative investment in prevention of displacement, expansion of green space, job training, and mobility that aim to build economic empowerment and improve public health and the environment for historically underserved neighborhoods.
The Goal of these improvements is to re-activate the park into a positive community resource, providing safe and engaging play opportunities for neighborhood children, exercise opportunities for adults and seniors, access to peaceful, natural environments that support mental health, plus dedicated space for community members to gather for meetings and receive a variety of services.
The Concept Design for the Sobrante Mini Park Renovation includes constructing a new approximately 1,626-foot Community Services Center building, a new play area, par course area, three new picnic areas with tables and double barbeque pits, new murals, nature walking paths, two new lawn areas, new fencing and gates, new landscaping throughout the park.
Picnic tables with double BBQ pit
Playground equipment and surfacing
Trees and other landscaping
Lawn
Bathroom
Bike racks
Nature walking path
Fence and gate at Pueblo Drive entrance
Drinking fountain
Community resource center
Educational boards
Par course equipment for adults and seniors
6/14/23
6/14/23 Rendering
Since 2019, extensive meetings were held with the Sobrante Park Resident Action Council where through community-based planning meetings, youth, seniors and families envisioned the revitalization of the park. Additional design ideas from residents to be included in the project are:
Restroom covered with mural/mosaic tiles
Nature walking path shaded with trees including additional signage
Metal picnic tables coated with anti-graffiti plastic coating located near large trees to provide shade
Sensory landscape with cultural significance and educational signage with information about the herbs and plants
Playground area with slides, play structure, climbing structure, spinners, and swings
Fencing and gate to prevent cars and dirt bikes from driving into the park and to prevent graffiti
Plant herbs succulents and native trees extensively throughout the park and especially along south side of the park
Use of sustainable techniques such as permeable safety surfacing and bio-retention facilities in the form of rain gardens
Install new drinking fountain with bottle filler
Plant up to twenty-five new trees on site to sequester carbon from atmosphere
Students from two neighboring schools will design and construct mural or paint ceramic tiles
Community members will plant herbs, succulents, trees and other landscaping
Residents who are on probation and live in the Sobrante Park neighborhood will have stipends from the Alameda County Probation Department when assisting with construction and landscaping
Civicorps members will assist in construction of picnic tables, perform anti-graffiti painting and light demolition
Roots Community Health Center staff will help students design and construct the mural or mosaic tiles to decorate the restroom exterior and organize community volunteers to participate in planting activities
Alameda County Probation Department will provide stipends to individuals who are on probation and assisting with construction and landscaping
Planting Justice will assist to identify and plant trees and other plants native to the area, guide community members through the planting process, and develop content for the educational signs placed along the nature walking path
10800 Pueblo Drive, Oakland, CA 94603 View Map
10800 Pueblo Drive , Oakland, CA 94603
1005330
Project Initiation & Community Re-Engagement (Project Launch)
Design & Approvals
Final Design/ Bid & Award
Construction
Open for Play!