ADVOCACY

Our staff and board partner with local community groups to promote Oakland’s parks and recreation system with our elected and appointed leaders from the Mayor’s office down. We gather data and insights from our biennial Parks Maintenance Survey, hold meetings to hear community voices and advocate by sending letters, making phone calls and speaking at City Council and Committee meetings on behalf of Oakland’s people and open spaces.

City of Oakland Mid-Cycle Budget review and questions

Measure Q was designed with a fair and reasonable Maintenance of Effort provision to help close the pre-existing structural funding gap (55%) while also funding a new, higher service level (45%). Measure Q was approved in March of 2020 with 68.1% popular support.  

If you are interested in engaging further you can send your own letter to City Council or forward our letter if you agree. You can also comment directly to City Council hybrid meeting on June 12th at 3:00pm.

Read our letter to Oakland City Council below.

Recently Completed Projects

2030 EQUITABLE CLIMATE ACTION PLAN

We were a proud community contributor to the 2030 Equitable Climate Action Plan (ECAP). Park supporters can be excited to see Oakland’s parks and recreation system recognized as a crucial part of an equitable, climate resilient Oakland. In July 2020, Oakland City Council adopted both the ECAP and a Resolution committing Oakland to achieving Carbon Neutrality by 2045.

MEASURE Q

Working in support of Oakland’s Yes on Q committee through phone banking and individual lobbying efforts, we strongly endorsed Measure Q and celebrated its passage in March 2020, resulting in more than $21 million annually for parks maintenance, homeless services and water quality improvements.