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Jean Sweeney Open Space Park Committee
Images and Slideshows
August 15, 2016 "Drone Flyovers Start" Click here to watch the series of drone fly overs to chronicle the construction of the Jean Sweeney Open Space Park. Scroll down when the page opens to see the series of fly overs as the construction progresses.
- Google aerial view of the 27 acres that will become the Jean Sweeney Open Space Park. Click Here. Includes an image from 2017 as construction of the Cross Alameda Trail progress.
- Follow the construction with drone videos and construction photos on this page.
- September 8, 2018 Alameda Boy Scout Troop 78 volunteered to do a cleanup day in the Jean Sweeney Park. The 17 members of the troop pulled weeds and picked up trash from the divider area between the Cross Alameda Bike Trail and the Walking/Jogging trail.
Watch a video of them working here
- August 9, 2018 was the second tour of the park construction scheduled by ARPD. Also joining the tours were children and dogs. Over 100 people came to the tour that started at 6:30pm, which was warm for an Alameda evening. See a slideshow of the second tour here.
- August 4, 2018 was the first of two public tours in August scheduled by the Alameda Recreation And Park Department. The public was invited by Amy Wooldridge, ARPD Director, to view the progress of construction. While the opening date is still a few months away, approximatly 200 excited people came to see the progress of the bike and walking/jogging trails and the developing playground area. Many joining the tour walked the entire 3200 foot length of the bike trail that presently ends at Constitution Way. When finished the Cross Alameda Bike Trail will go from the Fruitvale Bridge to the Sea Plane Lagoon in Alameda Point. View a slideshow of the park tour here.
- On October 14th 2017, the City Council, Recreation & Parks Commissioners, Bike Alameda Officials, Jean Sweeney Open Space Park Fund board members and the community all came together in the Jean Sweeney Park for a ground breaking ceremoney for the Cross Alameda Trail.
Music was provided by the Franz-Nichols Band.
Coffee was provided by Starbucks on Park Street.
To view video of the ground breaking ceremony click here.
- On September 16, 2017 The Alameda Recreation & Parks Department and the Jean Sweeney Open Space Park Fund sponsored a park cleanup work day. Approximatly 70 volunteers worked on the South side of the park to cleanup trash and debris left in the park from the homeless people who have used the park for many years. Two dumpster loads were picked up by the volunteers so they did a fabulous job and their work was very appreciated.
The work efforts of the volunteers was supported by donations from the following local businesses. We thank them all very much. - OnAugust 2, 2017 Denis Gasti, President of the Alameda Kiwanis Club, presented Amy Wooldridge, Alameda Recreation & Parks Director, with a check for $50,000 for building the natural playgrounds in the East end of the Jean Sweeney park. The donation is a combination of $25,000 from Alameda Kiwanis Club members and $25,000 from the Alameda Community Fund (ACF).
- September 18, 2016 Watch a drone fly over the park from the East end here. The drone video gives an appreciation for the 27 acres of the future park. This video is the first in the series that will chronicle the construction of the Jean Sweeney Open Space Park.
- On July 5, 2016 the Alameda City Council voted to accept the park design created by Placeworks. With the design approval, ARPD can start the construction phase by requesting bids for Phase I, the Cross Alameda Trail. After a company is selected, construction will start on the Cross Alameda Trail through the park. Start of construction is planned for fall 2016. Alameda City Council presentation and the Placeworks design of the park can be found here.
- July 4th, 2016 Jim Sweeney is honored by his selection as the 2016 4th of July parade Grand Marshal. Mr. Sweeney's two daughters and his sister-in-law joined him in the stage coach provided for the Grand Marshal. Click Here
- July 4th 2015 Alameda Parade Float. The Jean Sweeney Open Space Park Fund had a float in the 4th of July parade for the third year. Jim Sweeney sat on a park bench among trees in the natural open space to be created in the park. See a video of the float being built in fast motion and the float in the parade here. Again we would like to thank the "The Plowshares Nursery" in Alameda Point for loaning the plants for the flot.
- On August 2, 2014 the Alameda Walks path was from Marina Village Cove Park to the Jean Sweeney Open Space Park's East entrance. The group toured just half way into the Sweeney Park. Bill Delaney, Alameda Recreation & Parks Commission President, spoke in the park about the progress being made to develop the park. You can hear his remarks and find a link to Richard Bangert's report about the walk on the The Alamedan blog here.
- July 4th 2014 Alameda Parade Float. The Jean Sweeney Open Space Park Fund had a float in the 4th of July parade for the second year. Jim Sweeney sat on a park bench among trees in the natural open space to be created in the park. The slide show is available here. See a video of the float in the parade here.
- May 3, 2014 - Alameda Police Sponsored the May You Arrive Safely Walk Across Alameda. Separate groups started at the two Alameda ferry stops and ended at Alameda City Hall. The group starting at the Alameda Point Ferry landing passed through the future Jean Sweeney Open Space Park. View a short video of their time in the park. Click Here
- On July 13, 2013 the second tour of the Jean Sweeney Open Space Park was held. The tour is a 1.5 mile walk. The first half on the North side followed the path of the future Cross Alameda Bile & Walk Trail from Sherman Street in the East to Constitution Way in the West. The return walk along the South side passes beside the homes. This side of the park will have a return path completing the round trip walk. To read more about the walk Click Here
- Booth at ARPD Earthday festivities, Washington Park 2013 Click Here
- ARPD Park tour March 2, 2013 - Amy Wooldridge, Alameda Recreation & Parks Department Director led a tour of about 100 participants to the Jean Sweeney Oepn Space Park. To view the slideshow Click Here
- Celebration for the lawsuit decision: Alameda wins, July 29, 2009 Click Here
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On January 16, 2013, the Alameda Citizens Task Force presented Jim Sweeney and Dorothy Freeman talking about the ARPD community meetings to start the planning for the Jean Sweeney Open Space Park.
In this video crated from the audio recording of the meeting, Jim Sweeney introduces an audio presentation of Jean talking at the Alameda Public Affairs forum on Octomer 17, 2009 at the Alameda Free Public Library. Jean talks about her struggle to rezone the 22 acre Belt Line railyard as open space park land keeping the land from development.
Dorothy Freeman ends the presentation with information about the park, the planned community meetings for citizen input into the new park design and the importance of attending the meetings. Click Here - In 2009 Gil Garitano took a series of pictues of the Alameda Belt Line switching yard. Gil Garitano is a photographer in Alameda and a member of the Alameda Art Association. Click Here
Amy Wooldridge, ARPD Director, explains the progress of the park construction to those who came to the evening tour at 6:30pm.
Amy Wooldridge, ARPD Director, explains the progress of the park construction to those who came to the Saturday morning tour of the park.
Pagano's Hardware for trash grabbers
Starbucks on Park Street for morning coffee
McGuire & Hester for refrements and lunch
Lucky's at Marina Village for a gift card used for water
To see a details and video of the park clean up, click here.
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Published on: August 16, 2018