News

Please join us in welcoming Alex Pinto to his new role as our Community Greening Program Manager! As part of our Better Neighborhoods, Same Neighbors project for the Transformative Climate Communities Program, the Oakland Parks and Recreation Foundation is managing a $1.5 million grant to plant more than 2,000 trees in deep East Oakland. In his position, Alex will manage …

Welcome Alex Pinto, Our Community Greening Program Manager! Read More »

There is fresh progress to share about the restoration of Courtland Creek Park! It is terrific to be working together with the Friends of Courtland Creek Park, Oakland Public Works and Councilmember Sheng Thao. On March 1, Oakland’s Watershed and Stormwater Management Division received a $2 million award from the Caltrans Clean California Local Grant …

Fresh Progress at Courtland Creek Park Read More »

The Oakland Running Festival returns on March 20, 2022! As a longtime sponsor of the Oakland Parks and Recreation Foundation and corporate Adopt-A-Spot steward of Snow Park near Lake Merritt, the Oakland Running Festival connects recreation and community. “The whole point of parks is for people to be out there using them,” says Race Director Lena Zentgraf. …

Run, Don’t Walk, to this Volunteer Opportunity Read More »

To Our Parks Community, I hope my note finds you healthy and in good spirits, while finding safe ways to be among friends and family during this winter holiday season. Over the course of 2021, we came together to care for Oakland’s parks the way they’ve cared for all of us through the pandemic. We …

Our Year in Pictures Read More »

Two projects supported by the Oakland Parks and Recreation Foundation have received nearly $17 million for improvements at Lincoln Square Park in Chinatown and Verdese Carter Park in East Oakland! These funds are part of $548.3 million in grant funding announced by California State Parks to deliver new parks to more than 100 communities and …

State Grants Deliver $17 Million For Oakland Parks Read More »

Congratulations to our 2021 Recreation Center Grants Program recipients! Established with funds from the Thompson-Bliss Family Gift, this program allows Oakland’s Recreation Centers to apply for awards of up to $2,000 for special projects, facilities improvements or technology upgrades. Totaling more than $32,000, this year’s grants are highlighted by tournament entry fees and equipment for Davie Tennis …

Announcing Our 2021 Recreation Center Grants Program Recipients Read More »

Dear Friends, On behalf of the Oakland Parks and Recreation Foundation Board of Directors, it is a great pleasure to announce that Terra Cole Brown has been appointed the organization’s new Executive Director. A robust public search was conducted with support from Carlson Beck. Terra brings more than 14 years of experience in nonprofit management, …

Welcome Terra Cole Brown, Our New Executive Director! Read More »

Join us and register today for an Oakland Estuary Clean Up on Saturday, September 18, from 9:30AM to 12:30PM! We’ll gather in community to celebrate California Coastal Cleanup Day and Creek to Bay Month. The Oakland Estuary is home to marine animals, residents and a thriving watersport community. This stretch of water is hit hard by urban trash pollution …

Let’s Clean Up The Oakland Estuary Read More »

Thank you to the amazing players and generous sponsors who made the 2021 Parks Challenge such a success! From June 21 through July 11, more than 200 teams completed 1,300 missions at parks across Oakland, from DeFremery Park to Leona Heights Park and so many places in between. The 2021 Parks Challenge was a free, fun for …

Looking Back at the 2021 Parks Challenge Read More »

Thank you to all the community members (pictured above) who joined us on July 31 to discuss next steps for the restoration of Courtland Creek Park! It is terrific to be working together with the Friends of Courtland Creek Park, Oakland Public Works and Councilmember Sheng Thao. The City of Oakland is designing a project …

Moving Forward at Courtland Creek Read More »