The City of Alameda has put up one million dollars as a pledge in its application the State for funds to buy a good portion of the land originally proposed for Estuary Park. The money was obtained from sale of city land. Councilman Frank Mataresse led the council in committing the original amount. Recreation and Parks Department Director Susanne Ota organized a design for the new park and submitted the grant application.

The proposed park will occupy the parcels owned by Dutra and Fox. It will be large enough to contain a small active soccer field with adequate parking. The site stretches along with Estuary and will afford a jogging path along the water's edge. Areas for enjoying the view of the hills will be open to all of us. Copies of the proposed plan can be obtained from the office of Recreation and Parks.

For more information, please contact the Recreation and Parks department at:

1327 Oak Street
Alameda, CA 94501
(510) 747-7529
FAX: (510) 747-7566
TDD: (510) 522-7538
E-Mail: arpd@ci.alameda.ca.us

Background

At the very end of 2003 Estuary Park Action Committee member wrote a letter to the City Manager in support of the Recreation and Parks Department application. It read....

	James L. Flint, City Manager
	City of Alameda
	2263 Santa Clara Avenue
	Alameda, CA 94501

	Dear Mr. Flint;

	The members of the Estuary Park Action Committee commend the City
	of Alameda for acting to acquire land for the park.  We've been
	working with neighbors in the area immediately adjacent to the park
	site for several years to encourage the City to develop the park.
	You can read our "Estuary Park Information Resource" and take a
	look at our web site to see how much time and energy we've invested
	in this project as a neighborhood.

	We are especially delighted in the initial plans for the park drawn
	up under the supervision of Suzanne Ota, director of Alameda
	Recreation and Parks Department.  The preliminary design takes
	advantage of the estuary location and at the same time provides
	space for active sports like baseball and soccer.  The water
	frontage location combines naturally with estuary boating
	activities, as well jogging and bicycling.  It will become one of
	the star links in the chain of shoreline areas around the island.
	It will greatly improve an area of decaying commercial property and
	will contribute to the peace and well being of our neighborhood.

	We had hoped the City would find means to pursue the land purchase
	and this grant application is a beginning.  About 300 people in our
	neighborhood signed a petition asking that the City honor the
	promise of the park it made in the City's 1991 Master Plan.  The
	urban community surrounding the park is diverse, but economically
	disadvantaged.  The park grant money will go toward building a
	stronger community by realizing a sincere community consensus.  We
	know how our neighborhood feels about the park.  In a time marred
	by fear and worries about the future, the park is a genuine
	offering of grace.

	We support the Alameda Estuary Park grant application
	wholeheartedly.  It promises a better future for our neighborhood
	and for the City as a whole.


	On behalf of the Estuary Park Action Committee, 

	Joseph Woodard	
	Penny Cozad	
	Deborah Greene
	Dorothy Freeman	
	Rebecca Redfield

	E.P.A.C
	Estuary Park Action Committee

Update

Recently we asked Director Susanne Ota about the progress of the State grant application. Here is her reply...

	From SOTA@ci.alameda.ca.us Wed May 19 00:55:56 2004
	Date: Thu, 06 May 2004 14:21:56 -0700
	From: Suzanne Ota 
	Subject: Re: EPAC:S. Ota, Estuary park status?

	Hi Joe:  Good to hear from you.  We hear from State Parks at the
	end of March and had to submit a couple of additional items for the
	grant including a staff review of the Project by BCDC.  Everything
	was submitted to the State by their early April deadline.

	State Parks is now reviewing about 209 Urban Park grant
	applications with their selection committee.  I suspect it'll take
	3 to 4 months for them to go through their review process.  Once
	the top Projects are selected, we've been told that State Parks
	plans to do on-site Project visits approx.  at the end of summer.
	So at this point we're keeping our fingers crossed that we get
	approved for the first round.

	Will let you know when we head anything.

	Happy Summer!  Suzanne

	Suzanne Ota Recreation & Park Director City of Alameda (510)
	747-7570 E-mail:  sota@ci.alameda.ca.us