Community

Pressure Grows to Rebuild Mosswood Rec Center

Published

6 years ago

February 23, 2018

When a fire destroyed the popular Mosswood Park Recreation Center in North Oakland in November 2016, city officials announced with fanfare they would work with the community to rebuild it.

Now, over a year later, neighbors and supporters of the Mosswood recreation center are concerned that the project may be running out of steam, mired in the city’s bureaucracy.

Supporters of the park and recreation center consider the site a community gem and a neighborhood institution. They are determined to make sure the site is restored.

The center, located in the four-acre park at Webster Street, W. Macarthur Boulevard and across the street from Kaiser hospital, is run by the Oakland Parks and Recreation department and had housed a computer lab, after school programs, a homework club and dance studio, kitchen and programs for children with disabilities.

Lighting and water fountains currently are in disrepair —and trash pickup is spotty —though the park is still used for basketball games and other community activities.

Also situated at the park is the Moss House, a historic mansion that is sealed up and in disuse. The “Carpenter Gothic” style Victorian home was built in 1864 and bought by the City of Oakland in 1912.

“The day after the fire happened, there was a lot of sympathy and support from politicians. But that has not happened since,” said Brian Person, a community member who belongs to the Mosswood Recreational Advisory Council (RAC).

Some of the organizers supporting the Mosswood Park Rec Center are (L to R): Juan Lopez, Matt Ewing, Gretchen Till, Terry Stewart and Cassie Lopez.

“They had to demolish what was left after the fire,” he added. “It’s a hole in the ground now. The park has deteriorated because of the loss of the rec center.

“(But) it’s hard to get traction with the city,” Pearson said.

A number of people in the area want to make sure the park and recreation center remain a city priority, but the pace is frustrating.

“We’re working very hard to bring this recreational center back,” said Gretchen Till, co-chair of the Mosswood RAC. “We’re bringing people together for advocacy to support the park.”

Cassie Lopez, also co-chair of Mosswood RAC, said the center and the park attract people of different ages, races and economic status. Many people use the park for events – birthdays, capoeira, basketball – and they need to be involved to make sure the park is not forgotten, she said.

All these people need to be represented in the renovation planning – along with the homeless.

“A lot of people live in the park,” she said. “People living there have to be part of the conversation.”

Lopez emphasized that the community has staying power “We have a lot of spirt,” she said. “We’re not going away. We’re here.”

Wald, Councilmember McElhaney’s chief of staff, told the Post that he understands the community’s frustrations.

“The lack of information can be upsetting, he said, emphasizing the need for better communication with the community.

“The city has (fire) insurance, but it has taken some time to settle the insurance,” he said. “That’s slowed things down, and the neighbors are concerned.”

He said a settlement has been reached with the insurance company for about $4 million.

“Plans have been submitted to put a temporary recreational center structure, which should be installed by the end of March,” said Wald.

“I’m unhappy people have had to wait so long,” he continued. “The park needs friends, and the neighborhood is a terrific asset. Their work is the start of the process of reinvigorating the park as a whole.”

By Post deadline, the city’s Parks and Recreation department and the Risk Management department had not returned calls.

For more information, contact mosswoodparkrac@gmail.com or https://mosswoodparkrac.org/

The petition to “Bring Back Mosswood Park’s Rec Center is available at www.change.org/p/bring-back-mosswood-park-s-rec-center

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Oakland Post: Week of April 24 – 30, 2024

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of April 24 – 30, 2024

Published

5 days ago

April 26, 2024

Oakland Post

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Alameda County

DA Pamela Price Stands by Mom Who Lost Son to Gun Violence in Oakland

Last week, The Post published a photo showing Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price with Carol Jones, whose son, Patrick DeMarco Scott, was gunned down by an unknown assailant in 2018.

Published

1 week ago

April 22, 2024

Oakland Post

District Attorney Pamela Price with Carol Jones

Publisher’s note: Last week, The Post published a photo showing Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price with Carol Jones, whose son, Patrick DeMarco Scott, was gunned down by an unknown assailant in 2018. The photo was too small for readers to see where the women were and what they were doing. Here we show Price and Jones as they complete a walk in memory of Scott. For more information and to contribute, please contact Carol Jones at 510-978-5517 at morefoundation.help@gmail.com. Courtesy photo.

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City Government

Vallejo Welcomes Interim City Manager Beverli Marshall

At Tuesday night’s Council meeting, the Vallejo City Council appointed Beverli Marshall as the interim city manager. Her tenure in the City Manager’s Office began today, Wednesday, April 10. Mayor Robert McConnell praised Marshall’s extensive background, noting her “wide breadth of experience in many areas that will assist the City and its citizens in understanding the complexity of the many issues that must be solved” in Vallejo.

Published

1 week ago

April 22, 2024

Oakland Post

Beverli Marshall began her first day with the City on April 10. ICMA image.

Special to The Post

At Tuesday night’s Council meeting, the Vallejo City Council appointed Beverli Marshall as the interim city manager. Her tenure in the City Manager’s Office began today, Wednesday, April 10.

Mayor Robert McConnell praised Marshall’s extensive background, noting her “wide breadth of experience in many areas that will assist the City and its citizens in understanding the complexity of the many issues that must be solved” in Vallejo.

Current City Manager Michael Malone, whose official departure is slated for April 18, expressed his well wishes. “I wish the City of Vallejo and Interim City Manager Marshall all the best in moving forward on the progress we’ve made to improve service to residents.” Malone expressed his hope that the staff and Council will work closely with ICM Marshall to “ensure success and prosperity for the City.”

According to the Vallejo Sun, Malone stepped into the role of interim city manager in 2021 and became permanent in 2022. Previously, Malone served as the city’s water director and decided to retire from city service e at the end of his contract which is April 18.

“I hope the excellent work of City staff will continue for years to come in Vallejo,” he said. “However, recent developments have led me to this decision to announce my retirement.”

When Malone was appointed, Vallejo was awash in scandals involving the housing division and the police department. A third of the city’s jobs went unfilled during most of his tenure, making for a rocky road for getting things done, the Vallejo Sun reported.

At last night’s council meeting, McConnell explained the selection process, highlighting the council’s confidence in achieving positive outcomes through a collaborative effort, and said this afternoon, “The Council is confident that by working closely together, positive results will be obtained.”

While the search for a permanent city manager is ongoing, an announcement is expected in the coming months.

On behalf of the City Council, Mayor McConnell extended gratitude to the staff, citizen groups, and recruitment firm.

“The Council wishes to thank the staff, the citizens’ group, and the recruitment firm for their diligent work and careful consideration for the selection of what is possibly the most important decision a Council can make on behalf of the betterment of our City,” McConnell said.

The Vallejo Sun contributed to this report.