Open Space, Conservation, and Recreation (OSCAR) Element
Oakland's 2045 General Plan Update process is a once-in-a-generation opportunity for all Oaklanders to work together to create a visionary blueprint for the future of our City.
Sign up for Updates
About the Open Space, Conservation, and Recreation (OSCAR) Element
The OSCAR aims to do the following:
- Maintain, preserve, & strengthen Oakland’s network of open spaces and conserve important natural resources.
- Build
an equitable, well-maintained, accessible network of parks and
recreational facilities that support and reflect Oaklander’s needs,
identities and cultures.
General Plan Update
The OSCAR Element will be updated in Phase 2 of the General Plan Update.
Visit the General Plan Update page for more details.
In August 2024, as part of Phase 2 of the
General Plan Update (GPU), staff conducted survey to understand how
Oaklanders use the city's parks. We received nearly 600 responses to the
GPU Park Survey. The survey findings(PDF, 721KB)
show that Oakland parks are well-loved and have a consistent user base.
Park users understand parks as spaces of community connection and
belonging, as well as spaces that support outdoor recreation and
community health. However, uneven access to green space across the city,
aging infrastructure, lack of park maintenance, and concerns about
safety are challenges experienced by many park users.
To
complement the Park Survey, staff also conducted site visits of 22 parks
in Oakland, focusing on parks in Environmental Justice (EJ)
communities. The findings for each park are listed in this spreadsheet
for ease of viewing. These site visits were the first step of a larger
process to developing a park amenity matrix for all of Oakland parks as
part of the OSCAR update. The park amenity matrix will be an accessible
and easy to understand tool that will allow users to quickly identify
which parks have amenities that meet their interests and needs.
Current OSCAR Element
This plan or element contains policies that address the management of open land, natural resources and parks in the City.