Oakland Parks, Recreation & Youth Development

09/28/2023

September 17th, approximately 20 firefighters responded to a fire at the Rotary Nature Center on Bellevue Ave along Lake Merritt.
Fire crews successfully contained the fire to between 10-15% of the rear exterior wall closest to the lake and the adjoining roof area. Thankfully, the interior of the facility was largely spared from impact, aside from some minor smoke and water damage.
The fire was placed under control at 7:45 PM. There were no reports of any injuries and the Rotary Nature Center was not housing any animals.
While there are verified reports of homelessness activity in the immediate area of the fire’s origin, the exact cause of this fire is still under investigation.
Programs are temporarily suspended. Please check back for updates.

09/22/2023

Cultivate health and well-being through the practice of Yoga at Willie Keyes Recreation Center. Whether you're a seasoned yogi or just starting your yoga journey, join us for a rejuvenating experience.
Register for this adult program at cityofoakland.perfectmind.com
Scan QR code or using code 00150807
Classes held at 3131 Union St, Oakland

09/16/2023

It's a great day to hit some balls. Davies Tennis Stadium reopened on Monday Sept. 11.

09/15/2023

Fairway Fest celebrating 100 years of golf at Lake Chabot!
Family Fun. Reservations required.

09/14/2023

It's a great day to get outside and hit some ball. Davies Tennis Stadium re-opened Monday Sept. 11.

09/11/2023

Davies Tennis Stadium re-opens Monday Sept. 11.

01/04/2023

WINTER STORM: High winds & saturated ground can cause falling trees & branches, which can cause injury & create safety hazards in parks. Avoid walking or parking under trees. Access to City parks & parking lots may be restricted during the storm. More at https://www.oaklandca.gov/topics/winter-storms

12/08/2022

PAVE has recently completed their newest training in Oakland, California, offering trauma-informed, compassion-driven first responder training. Oakland Park Stewards was trained in alternative first responder training methodologies through PAVE Prevention, offering a modern solution to strained community relationships by rebuilding trust in first responders and fostering safer, more compassionate communities!

Oakland Park Stewards is one of many programs stemming from the Oakland Reimagining Public Safety Task Force and its mission to enhance public safety through more appropriate, efficient, and equitable allocation of resources.

The training program focused on cultural humility and communication as the result of assessments in the current community, maintaining the premise that compassion and communication are pivotal in effectively mitigating violent events.

Marc Weinstein, OPS Supervisor and Recreation Supervisor for the City of Oakland says, " Beyond the value of the material expertly presented, it was the environment created that made the time so beneficial. Our team built cohesion and chemistry and will be a much stronger outfit in the field thanks to this training."

You can learn more about OPS by signing up to receive our monthly newsletter or in the official press release here:
https://buff.ly/3IDSfLi

10/29/2022

Halloween Safety Tips from OPD
As a trick-or-treating pedestrian:
• Always be aware of your surroundings.
• Do not let electronic devices distract you as you walk to and from your destination.
• Pay attention to the traffic moving around you.
• Try to walk in well-lit, populated areas.
• Follow the rules of the road – cross in crosswalks and obey traffic signs and signals.
• Make eye contact with drivers as they approach; never assume a driver sees you.
• If possible, wear bright clothing and/or reflective material(s).
As a trick-or-treating driver:
• Look out for pedestrians!
• Slow down, yield to pedestrians, and be prepared to stop when nearing all intersections.
• Be cautious when backing up – pedestrians, in particular young children, can be difficult to see.
General candy safety tips:
• When in doubt, throw it out! Avoid candy that is not securely wrapped.
• Consider avoiding small, hard candies for young children, as they can be a choking hazard.
Have an enjoyable and safe Halloween!

10/21/2022

Community Open House-Try Curling! Free!
Saturday October 22nd, Two time slots: 3-4pm or 4:30-5:30pm.
Ages 7 years old and up. registration code: eastoakland
The San Francisco Bay Area Curling Club (SFBACC) in collaboration with Oakland Parks, Recreation and Youth Development invites you to a free community open house to try the sport of curling!
Community Open House Saturday 10/22 3:00 PM
https://bayareacurling.com/event-registrations/learntocurl/586-community-open-house-saturday-10-22-3-00-pm
Community Open House Saturday 10/22 4:30pm
https://bayareacurling.com/event-registrations/learntocurl/587-community-open-house-saturday-10-22-4-30-pm

10/19/2022

10/05/2022

The East Oakland Sports Center (EOSC) Pool is closed for maintenance and repairs. Oakland Public Works is performing deep cleaning and repairs on the pool shell and also replacing the main drain covers.
Check back for updates and reopening info for programs including water aerobics, adult lap swim, aquatics playtime, and learn-to-swim lessons for all ages.
Lap Swim is available at Lions and Temescal pools.

09/27/2022

Now is the time to submit an improvement project for a park or recreation facility.

Every two years the Capital Improvement Program guides how the City of Oakland will invest in projects that build, replace, or improve public assets such as buildings, roads, and parks.

Oaklanders, do you have an idea for a capital project YOU want the City to invest in? We are accepting community-suggested project ideas now through Oct. 14 for consideration in the upcoming two-year budget. Learn more and tell us about your idea at https://hubs.la/Q01nh4N_0

09/20/2022

Oakland Public Works Invites Residents to Dispose of Bulky Junk for Free at This Month’s Bulky Block Party on Sept. 24
https://www.oaklandca.gov/services/bulky-block-party-events-for-free-large-item-disposal.

09/06/2022

Visit Excessive Heat website for locations where you can cool off in Oakland https://www.oaklandca.gov/resources/cool-emergency-respite-centers -for-preventing-heat-related-illness

09/02/2022

Beat the Heat! Saturday is National Movie Day. Most theaters are $3 all day. https://www.cnbc.com/2022/09/01/national-cinema-day-how-to-score-3-dollar-movie-tickets-this-weekend.html

07/25/2022

Willie Davis of Lincoln Rec Center Honored as “Black Hero of Chinatown”

When Willie Davis, Jr. moved to East Oakland in 1981, he was a firefighter at the Hunters Point Naval Shipyard in San Francisco. He says that that job, which he had for 25 years, required [...]

06/17/2022

City of Oakland Prepares to Support Large Crowds Visiting Lake Merritt for Juneteenth, Forth of July. Road Closures Planned...
https://www.oaklandca.gov/news/2022/city-of-oakland-prepares-to-support-large-crowds-visiting-lake-merritt-for-juneteenth-fourth-of-july-weekends

06/17/2022

Art Opportunity at Tyrone Carney Park. Volunteer on selection committee. Watch for RFQ soon to be released.

06/16/2022

https://www.oaklandca.gov/news/2022/city-of-oakland-prepares-to-support-large-crowds-visiting-lake-merritt-for-juneteenth-Cityfourth-of-july-weekends
City of Oakland Prepares to Support Large Crowds Visiting Lake Merritt for Juneteenth, Fourth of July Weekends

05/20/2022

Don't miss this free event in Snow Park on June 5th. Skip the traffic and take BART.

05/04/2022

A big CONGRATULATIONS to Oakland's 2022 Mother of the Year Frances Bienati! Join us on Saturday, May 7 at 10:30am for a virtual celebration https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82323881339
*photo credit SF Gate

04/30/2022

Lovin OPRYD P*e Wee basketball
https://youtu.be/7xO4sFjzIsI

04/23/2022

Do you know about the City of Oakland's MACRO program? It's a community response program for non-violent, non-emergency 911 calls. The purpose is to meet the needs of the community with a compassionate care first response model grounded in empathy, service, and community. MACRO's goal is to reduce responses by police, resulting in fewer arrests and negative interactions, and increased access to community-based services and resources for impacted individuals and families, and most especially for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC).

The official website of the City of Oakland. Find out about meetings, request City services through OAK 311, or contact the Mayor and City Council.

04/22/2022

Join us for Oakland Earth Day

04/19/2022

Great way to spend the holiday weekend.

Can't wait for Camp? Join us for our annual Memorial Day Work Weekend, May 27-30. Volunteers stay onsite for free as we gather to prepare the OFRC facility for the upcoming summer! Enjoy some time away with the very best of the OFRC community and get a taste of Camp before anyone else. Don't miss out! For more information and to sign up visit www.featherrivercamp.com today!

04/19/2022

COUNTDOWN TO TOWN CAMP!
Register cityofoakland.perfectmind.com
download Activity Guide at https://www.oaklandca.gov/departments/department-of-parks-recreation-and-youth-development

Session 1: 6/6/22 - 6/17/22
Lets have a Ball
Come one, come all and Lets Have a Ball! Campers will get to participate in your traditional ball sports like Soccer, Baseball, basketball alongside nontraditional ball games like 4 Square, Gaga ball, Bocce Ball and more! Campers will also get to learn basic Ballroom dancing, learn to juggle, and make yummy popcorn balls!

Suit up for Science
Get ready for a week of exciting activities, excursions and games! Learn about space, the world around us, the forces of flight and more, with fun hands-on activities, that include making flying contraptions and launching rockets!

Session 2: 6/20/22 - 7/1/22
Bay Area Back Yard Adventure
Join us for a week of exploring, learning, and growing in the outdoors! Backyard Adventure week gives campers the unique chance of exploring and learning about the flora and fauna (plants and animals) in and near their neighborhood through daily wild adventure, nature, and stewardship activities. Hiking, animal and plant identification, nature journaling, and more.

Towns Got Talent
Step into the spotlight and come shine on stage! Young performers will have the opportunity to learn about physical comedy, stage presence, playwriting, improv, prop making, theatrical production and much more! Ending in a performance.

Session 3: 7/5/22 - 7/15/22
Splash Back
Cannonball into a week of fun splashing with friends while we dive into water-based activities, water education and unexplored depths of your imagination!

Tinkers Week
Tap into your natural curiosity and imaginative minds with engineering design challenges, make and take projects, and expressive free form activities that will be sure to inspire further exploration and creativity.

Session 4: 7/11/22 - 7/29/22
International Palate
Pack your forks and lets get ready to travel the world! Campers will explore a variety of cultures through food. Join us on this international adventure as we learn how to cook and prepare dishes while learning about healthy eating, kitchen safety and explore the evolution of a meal from garden to table while learning about diverse foods from all parts of the world.

The Town Challenge
Prepare yourself for a crazy fun week of Wacky Olympics, color wars, and a race against time with minute-to-win-it games. Only teamwork, determination, and a whole lot of fun can get you through this week of crazy competition. Are you up for the challenge?

04/15/2022

https://www.kqed.org/news/11910495/how-to-get-free-entry-to-california-state-parks-with-your-library-card

See which California state parks, including many around the Bay Area, you can get into for free with the new California State Library Parks Pass.

04/13/2022

Check out Montclair Recreation Center's egg-speriment! All you'll need is baking soda, water, white vinegar, plastic eggs, a cup, and a bowl/small tray!

04/04/2022

04/04/2022

Saving the environment one swing at a time. Tees For Bees - April 13 Lake Chabot Golf Course Register: cityofoakland.perfectmind.com

04/01/2022

Oh, go fly a kite! No really! Bring a blanket & the family down to Brookdale Park (2535 High Street) for a kite run! Or just enjoy sunshine on the lawn & watch the kites take off. Free kites for the first 40 families. Music, bubbles, popsicles, and other fun treats for all. For more info contact Rebecca at [email protected]

03/31/2022

HIRING for summer recreation jobs at locations across Oakland. Camp Counselor, Sports, Swimming, Golf, Boating, Fitness, Van Driver. Jobs start June 1. Deadline extended beyond March. Apply online at : https://www.oaklandca.gov/jobs