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The liberation of public parks closed for gentrification in Oakland
In early September 2014, the small public park across from the Greyhound station on San Pablo Avenue between 21st and 22nd Streets, a common hangout spot for Oakland locals, was fenced up and closed by the city. This happened just after major construction of a large multi-story residential building was completed on adjacent land recently sold by the Oakland Catholic Diocese. it was clear that the idea was to run off the poor people who made use of the park for the supposed aesthetic pleasure of the expected newcomers who would be living in the building. In December, another popular mini-park on San Pablo and 32nd Street was likewise fenced off without notice. In the early morning hours of December 20, however, both parks were liberated when the city fencing was cut down.
[Park on 21st and San Pablo closed by the city of Oakland, as seen in September, with new building in the background.]
Only "Triangle Park" at 32nd Street remains open to the public. While the one at 32nd is heavily used today, as it always was, people were slower to repopulate the other park by the Greyhound station since it was fenced off for over four months. After the initial reclamation of the park at 21st Street, it was fenced off by the city again.
Bay Area Intifada has a first-hand account of the park liberations with audio:
Only "Triangle Park" at 32nd Street remains open to the public. While the one at 32nd is heavily used today, as it always was, people were slower to repopulate the other park by the Greyhound station since it was fenced off for over four months. After the initial reclamation of the park at 21st Street, it was fenced off by the city again.
Bay Area Intifada has a first-hand account of the park liberations with audio:
For more information:
https://bayareaintifada.wordpress.com/2014...
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On Saturday morning, community members, with the blessings of Triangle Park residents, removed a fence put up by the the city just days before. The park is a community space where people mingle, snooze, break bread, play chess and–for some homeless people–can finally rest their feet. The city put up the fence to push park residents and visitors out of the community gathering space, angering park residents, nearby neighbors and other Oaklanders. People are drawing a clear connection between the fence and the city’s ongoing efforts to gentrify Oakland through the displacement, murder and harassment of black, brown and homeless communities.
On the way to the park, a couple of community members talked to Bay Area Intifada about the significance of the fence:
(audio)
Another community member talked about why we should support the people at the park:
(audio)
Asians for Black Lives set up a long table and served chicken, pastries, vegetables, oranges and cookies. A large group of people milled and mingled with park residents and frequenters who had been standing along the sidewalk across the street from the park.
Shortly after convening, community individuals, families and children quickly began clipping, pulling and bending wires and fence posts. In twenty to thirty minutes, the unwanted eyesore had been pulled down. People smiled, cheered, laughed and talked across the street from the park, glad to see the blight of hostile metal removed and the space reopened. One man victoriously sauntered to a table and reclaimed his space. A neighbor from nearby senior housing walked by and began to hug and thank people.
Sherman, a homeless man who spends a lot of time in the park shared his thoughts:
(audio)
“Isn’t there a fence around the park on 22nd and MLK?” asked a community members.
“Might as well deal with the other fence,” said another.
Within an hour, the other barrier was removed, children had rolled up the dis-assembled fencing and the community space was reclaimed. A police vehicle rolled by and the community members quietly went their separate ways.
On the way to the park, a couple of community members talked to Bay Area Intifada about the significance of the fence:
(audio)
Another community member talked about why we should support the people at the park:
(audio)
Asians for Black Lives set up a long table and served chicken, pastries, vegetables, oranges and cookies. A large group of people milled and mingled with park residents and frequenters who had been standing along the sidewalk across the street from the park.
Shortly after convening, community individuals, families and children quickly began clipping, pulling and bending wires and fence posts. In twenty to thirty minutes, the unwanted eyesore had been pulled down. People smiled, cheered, laughed and talked across the street from the park, glad to see the blight of hostile metal removed and the space reopened. One man victoriously sauntered to a table and reclaimed his space. A neighbor from nearby senior housing walked by and began to hug and thank people.
Sherman, a homeless man who spends a lot of time in the park shared his thoughts:
(audio)
“Isn’t there a fence around the park on 22nd and MLK?” asked a community members.
“Might as well deal with the other fence,” said another.
Within an hour, the other barrier was removed, children had rolled up the dis-assembled fencing and the community space was reclaimed. A police vehicle rolled by and the community members quietly went their separate ways.
For more information:
https://bayareaintifada.wordpress.com/2014...
the one at 21st has been re-fenced up for weeks now
What can we do to get the fence on 22nd removed and to prevent this park from being blocked off in the future
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