Title
Establish Naming Criteria for Alameda Landing Waterfront Park, Located at the End of 5th Street Near Mitchell Avenue.
Body
To: Honorable Chair and Members of the Recreation and Park Commission
From: Amy Wooldridge, Recreation and Parks Director
Re: Establish Naming Criteria for Alameda Landing Waterfront Park, Located at the End of 5th Street Near Mitchell Avenue.
BACKGROUND
In October 2021, the City Council updated the City Facilities and Street Naming Policy (Naming Policy). The goal of the updated Naming Policy is to broaden the naming criteria to allow greater diversity, equity and inclusion as well as broader community input at public Brown Act meetings. Therefore, standing criteria is written into the updated and replacement Naming Policy that reflects diversity, equity and inclusion so City facility names intentionally broaden the representation of people in our community.
The Naming Policy provides a four-step process to name City parks with the Recreation and Parks Commission (Commission), including the final approval by City Council. The first step is an initial presentation on the City park including the location, background and any identifying features. The Commission is then responsible to identify and confirm naming criteria for that park. Examples could include a maritime or naval reference if the facility is located at Alameda Point, a community value, a natural reflection of a location, or other theme.
After the criteria is confirmed, staff will conduct a citywide community survey to solicit name ideas based on that criteria. As referenced in other staff reports this evening, there are four new City public parks to be named. The community survey will include all four parks for efficiency and to reach a broad representation of the Alameda community.
The next process steps will include:
• A Commission meeting to review the entire list of names generated from the survey as well as previously created park name lists and then reviewing a short list of names that meets the established criteria. The names on the short list will be researched and vetted. The goal of this meeting is for the Commission to recommend a very short list of names, such as 5 - 10 names.
• A second community wide survey is then conducted to solicit feedback on the recommended final short name list.
• A Commission meeting to recommend a name to City Council for final approval.
• The City Council then considers this recommendation and makes the final decision to name the City Park.
The Naming Policy also includes the following requirements:
• A focus on local Alameda significance but may reflect California or a national lens as appropriate.
• A person must be deceased for at least three years to be considered.
• Alameda Point streets must reflect WWII naval themes to be consistent with the area’s historic district designation. This is not a requirement for parks at Alameda Point.
• Names must reflect values of inclusivity and diversity.
DISCUSSION
The Alameda Landing Waterfront Park is located at the end of 5th Street, just off Mitchell Avenue on the Alameda Oakland Estuary. The location and park design is detailed in Exhibit 1. This park is unique in that most of it is on a pier. The park includes a playground with a ship theme, group picnic area, chess and corn hole games, fish cleaning station, dock for non-motorized water craft and a water taxi shuttle, large open concrete area for events, fitness equipment, connection with the SF Bay Trail, and seating along the public water promenade. This park will serve the residents of new and existing homes in Alameda Landing and is a connection for the San Francisco Bay Trail through to Estuary Park.
This section of Alameda is known as the Fleet and Industrial Supply Center (FISC). This area of Alameda was originally undeveloped marshlands and tidal flats of the San Francisco Bay. During the 1800s to the 1960s, this land was created by filling these areas with dredge materials from Seaplane Lagoon, San Francisco Bay and Oakland Inner Harbor.
From 1920 to 1941, the area was a commercial airport. The federal government purchased the land in 1941 and was constructed from 1944 - 1945 by the U.S. Army Corps. The Army Air Forces conducted operations from 1945 - 1948 and used the site as a supply center to support military operations. In 1951, the site’s use changed and it became the Alameda Medical Depot including cold storage facilities with a mission to procure, store and distribute perishable food. From 1955 - 1962, the Quartermaster General, Washington D.C. managed the site as the Alameda Administration Center. [Historical information cited from 1) US Army Corps of Engineers History - Fleet Industrial Supply Center Alameda Annex, 8/21/2017 and 2) Dept of the Navy Base Realignment and Closure Fact Sheet - 5-Year Review of Alameda Point and Fleet and Industrical Supply Center Oakland, Alameda Facility/Alameda Annex Alameda, California, November 2011]
Naming criteria for the park could represent many aspects of this site. Examples could include the history of the FISC, honoring the natural landscape that was previously at this site, reflecting the character and features of the park, signifying a community value or other criteria.
A request was previously brought to the Recreation and Parks Commission by Bohol Circle, a Filipino-American social society founded in Alameda in 1936, to name this park after their organization in honor of their place and role in the Alameda community and history. The request was also brought to the Planning Board during the park design approval and the Planning Board voted to recommend to the Recreation and Parks Commission to name the park Bohol Circle Park.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
There is no financial impact from determining a naming criteria for this park.
RECOMMENDATION
To establish naming criteria for Alameda Landing Waterfront Park, located at the end of 5th Street near Mitchell Avenue.
Respectfully submitted,
Amy Wooldridge, Recreation and Parks Director
Exhibits:
1. Alameda Landing Waterfront Park Location and Design