Title
Review and Recommend Whether to Rename Jackson Park.
Body
To: Honorable Chair and Members of the Recreation and Park Commission
From: Amy Wooldridge, Recreation and Parks Director
Re: Review and Recommend Whether to Rename Jackson Park.
BACKGROUND
At the May 10 and June 14, 2018 meetings, the Recreation and Parks Commission (Commission) discussed the history of President Andrew Jackson and discussed the policy and process to rename a park. This was initiated by a written request from a community member to rename the park to Justice Park. At these meetings, there was much discussion about the process to rename a park and to consider bringing it back as a future agenda item.
At the June 11, 2020 meeting, the Commission requested and agreed to place this on the July agenda.
An online local petition was organized to rename Jackson Park and now has 688 signatures in support.
DISCUSSION
History of Jackson Park and President Jackson
All information on Jackson Park below is cited from Alameda at Play, A Century of Public Parks and Recreation in a Bay Area City, by Woodruff Minor. Additional information was received through correspondence with Mr. Minor.
Jackson Park was the City's first park, however when it opened in 1895 it was named Alameda Park. After a failed petition drive to condemn this commons area on Park Avenue as a public park, the Alameda Board of City Trustees authorized City Attorney E.K. Taylor to begin condemnation proceedings. Mr. Taylor then obtained waivers from over 120 property owners, including from absentee owners who lived in other cities and countries. By 1893, he had obtained all of the waivers and in June 1894, the Superior Court ruled in favor of condemnation. On July 4, 1895, the residents celebrated the park opening and it was the City's only park for the next 14 years.
The City opened three more parks in 1909. While contemplating names, the Park and Playground Commission chose to name the City parks after an...
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