The Future of Estuary Park

The City of Oakland is soliciting public comment for their plans to expand and renovate Estuary Park, a lobe of landfill that juts out into the Oakland-Alameda Estuary east of Jack London Square.

Well-presented and visually appealing information about the project can be found at https://www.oaklandca.gov/projects/estuary-park. A survey entitled “What would you like to see and do in the park?” is open at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/3G669CH. We took the survey and found it quick and easy, with ample opportunity to mention sailing as a use we’d like to see included in future plans. The survey will remain open until midnight on November 7.

We’d like to see the park be usable by sailors big and small from sailboats big and small. The photos in the Power Point slideshow include kayaking and rowing but don’t show sailing. As usual in presentations of this type, the majority of “waterfront” images show people looking at the water but not accessing it.

“In the distant past I’ve docked there to stretch my legs after sailing from San Francisco,” commented our proofreader, Jean Ouellette. Jack London Square and other Oakland waterfront businesses are within walking distance, and the Bay Trail runs through the park.

“The next community workshop will be held on Wednesday, December 6 at 6-8 p.m. at the Jack London Aquatic Center, 115 Embarcadero, Oakland,” says Ali Schwartz from the city’s Bureau of Engineering & Construction.