From Thursday, June 18 at 3pm through Tuesday, June 23, the City revenue office will undergo a database migration, and their online services will be unavailable. City offices will be open for payment drop-off to meet due dates, but will be unable to process documents or payments. Please note all City offices are closed Friday, June 19 for Juneteenth. We apologize for the inconvenience.
Published on June 16, 2026
Oakland, CA - With large crowds anticipated at Lake Merritt for the upcoming Juneteenth holiday on Friday, June 19th, the City of Oakland will implement temporary safety measures to enable the public to gather and enjoy the festivities. The goal of these steps is to safely accommodate large numbers of visitors to the Lake so everyone feels welcome and safe, and to ensure emergency vehicle and transit access.
At Lake Merritt on summer weekends and holidays, traffic and parking congestion along the narrow Lakeshore Avenue remains a safety priority. Unsafe conditions include when cars are double- and triple-parked, creating significant traffic jams and, of greatest concern, impeding access for emergency vehicles like fire trucks and ambulances. Too many vehicles in too little space create the need for temporary street closures to ensure emergency services can be delivered to people at or around the Lake as swiftly as possible and that participants can access public transit.
Residents who live along affected streets will be allowed vehicle access through the road closures. Emergency vehicles, AC Transit buses and East Bay Paratransit vehicles will also be allowed access. Businesses coordinating deliveries along affected streets are advised to plan accordingly.
Traffic barriers allowing pedestrian access to the Lake will be placed around Lake Merritt. Bicycles will be allowed through these barriers. The City is not planning to place fencing around the Lake.
Juneteenth is a parking meter holiday; the Lake Park Parking Lot under I-580 has approximately 150 spaces, which on non-holiday weekdays are often largely available.
The City encourages those who are able to use AC Transit, BART, ride share, and/or bike share, to access Lake Merritt.
City Code Enforcement and OPD's Alcoholic Beverage Action Team (ABAT) will be on site at Lake Merritt on Friday to address illegal vending.
Juneteenth: June 19 Road Closures at Lake Merritt
On Friday, June 19 from 6 a.m. until 8 p.m., the following road restrictions will be in effect:
Lakeshore Avenue
Closed between MacArthur Blvd and East 18th St.
No parking will be permitted
The following streets will be closed at Lakeshore Ave: Beacon St, Boden Way, Brooklyn Ave, Wayne Ave, Hanover Ave, and the Lakeshore Ave cul-de-sac.
El Embarcadero—Closed.
Grand Avenue
Closed between MacArthur Boulevard and Euclid Ave.
The following streets will be closed at Grand Ave: Perkins St, Ellita Ave, Staten Ave, and Bellevue Ave.
Bellevue will be restricted to residents only from Perkins St to Grand Ave, and visitors to Children’s Fairyland. These restrictions will improve traffic safety and allow for greater access for park visitors, bicyclists, and pedestrians around this narrow section of Lake Merritt. They will also allow for emergency vehicle access when needed.
MacArthur Boulevard
The following streets will be closed at MacArthur Blvd.: Grand Ave, Lakeshore Ave, and Beacon St.
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