Lake Merritt Dispatch Newsletter by Richard L. Bailey, founder of the Lake Merritt Institute
THE LAKE MERRITT DISPATCH
OAKLAND REPORT SOLUTIONS – Number Two
The recently published “Oakland Report” by Tim Gardner included 7 solutions to partially freeing the city from it’s paralyzing budget crisis (1). Dispatch #8 described the first solution; here is the second.
"2. Refinance the CalPERs pension debt. Oakland’s CalPERS (CA Public Employees Retirement System) Unfunded Actuarial Liability (UAL) was $1.9B as of last year and we’re paying 7% annual interest on it. That could be refinanced with a municipal bond at around 3.5% annual interest. The city has the capacity to do this within its statutory debt limit of $3B because it presently has $600M of debt on the books. This could save about $45-65M per year.”
Benefits of doing so include:
· Lower monthly payments
· Improved credit score, and
· Financial flexibility
Why pay 7% interest on $1.9 billion when a lower interest rate is possible? If the city council cannot bring itself to act on this, then city staff should do so.
POLITICS - LAKE CRITTERS DISCUSS THE ELECTION
Jonathan L. Seagull (the bird made famous by the book, album, and movie of the same name) and Strumpy the red shrimp, were arguing again. They had been doing so since Strumpy failed in his effort to convince the Lake critters that he had won the election four years ago. I won fair and un-square he said. It was only because those foreign crabs and worms voted against me that some say I lost. And if I win again, I’ll get rid of all those environmental regulations about the climate hoax he continued. Indeed, levels of carbon pollution in the air above Lake Merritt had risen when he was in control. I offer one billion shrimp pellets to any critter that can help me, and if someone doesn’t like it, I’ll grab them by the tail feathers.
Jonathan was horrified. Someone is going to grab you by the ballot he said. The wise old bird had seen others like the red shrimp, who was enamored of himself and insisted that all the plankton should be too, or else.... Some of those shrimp had temporarily taken control of their lake in Germany, and the results were disastrous. In one case, all the foreign fish were thrown out and killed.
The plankton, and every other living thing need to realize how dangerous you are he told Strumpy. The younger life forms don’t have the background yet to know how much you lie, and might actually believe you. Jonathan’s feathers shuddered at the thought, but he worried out loud that the uber wealthy critters might be able to elect Strumpy because they wanted to become even wealthier and more powerful.
Jonathan pondered all this as he flew toward the sunrise. The sun was coming up, but he knew that there were storm clouds on the horizon.
__________________________________________________________________________________________
SAD CLASSROOMS
Every summer sailing wannabes troop down to the Lake Merritt Boating Center to learn how to sail, paddle a canoe, and handle a kayak, etc. But before they venture out on the water, classroom instruction is required; it’s much safer that way. And during the school year, many students take field trips to learn about how to reduce pollution in Lake Merritt. Where does that instruction take place? In a dingey, windowless, unheated, un-air conditioned room that was designed to be a garage more than a classroom. Indeed, the adjoining spaces are garages and storage areas. And that is the main classroom. Overflow classes are held in one that is even worse. Educational equipment is inadequate, or lacking entirely.
This has been happening for decades. The Boating Center was built in 1954, 70 years ago. A suggestion was made during the Lake Merritt Master Plan to tear them down and replace them with a two story structure having boat storage on the bottom, and classrooms with a biology/water quality laboratory above, but that didn’t make the short list of recommended improvements.
Education is a foundational piece of Oakland’s future, but it should not have to occur in such classrooms. If replacement is unaffordable, modern educational equipment and a comfortable environment should at least be provided.
THE LAKE MERRITT INSTITUTE ARCHIVE
Do you want to access years of information about Lake Merritt, including bird columns, occasional poetry, water quality and history? If so, then go to the Internet Archive, specifically the records from :
https://web.archive.org/web/20231009190425/https://lakemerrittinstitute.org/
There you will find documents from December 9, 2001 to 2024. Just click on one of the black lines at the top of the page, and you will see a recreation of the Institute website for that date. Recent history, including photos, bulletin board posters, trash data, and the Tidings newsletter are revealed at the click of a mouse.
__________________________________________________________________________________________
POLICE CONTACTS FOR LAKESIDE PARK
Making a personal connection about an issue is always a good way to work toward resolution.
For Lakeside Park, the Area Police Captain is Alan Yu:
[email protected]
The local Sargent is Josiah Ladd:
[email protected]
The Deputy Chief is Tedesco:
[email protected]
If you see something wrong, say something. The squeaky wheel gets the grease.
__________________________________________________________________________________________
To unsubscribe and stop receiving future issues of Lake Merritt Dispatch, reply with STOP.
(1) https://www.oaklandreport.org/p/we-can-balance-oaklands-budget-without?triedRedirect=true
OAKLAND REPORT SOLUTIONS – Number Two
The recently published “Oakland Report” by Tim Gardner included 7 solutions to partially freeing the city from it’s paralyzing budget crisis (1). Dispatch #8 described the first solution; here is the second.
"2. Refinance the CalPERs pension debt. Oakland’s CalPERS (CA Public Employees Retirement System) Unfunded Actuarial Liability (UAL) was $1.9B as of last year and we’re paying 7% annual interest on it. That could be refinanced with a municipal bond at around 3.5% annual interest. The city has the capacity to do this within its statutory debt limit of $3B because it presently has $600M of debt on the books. This could save about $45-65M per year.”
Benefits of doing so include:
· Lower monthly payments
· Improved credit score, and
· Financial flexibility
Why pay 7% interest on $1.9 billion when a lower interest rate is possible? If the city council cannot bring itself to act on this, then city staff should do so.
POLITICS - LAKE CRITTERS DISCUSS THE ELECTION
Jonathan L. Seagull (the bird made famous by the book, album, and movie of the same name) and Strumpy the red shrimp, were arguing again. They had been doing so since Strumpy failed in his effort to convince the Lake critters that he had won the election four years ago. I won fair and un-square he said. It was only because those foreign crabs and worms voted against me that some say I lost. And if I win again, I’ll get rid of all those environmental regulations about the climate hoax he continued. Indeed, levels of carbon pollution in the air above Lake Merritt had risen when he was in control. I offer one billion shrimp pellets to any critter that can help me, and if someone doesn’t like it, I’ll grab them by the tail feathers.
Jonathan was horrified. Someone is going to grab you by the ballot he said. The wise old bird had seen others like the red shrimp, who was enamored of himself and insisted that all the plankton should be too, or else.... Some of those shrimp had temporarily taken control of their lake in Germany, and the results were disastrous. In one case, all the foreign fish were thrown out and killed.
The plankton, and every other living thing need to realize how dangerous you are he told Strumpy. The younger life forms don’t have the background yet to know how much you lie, and might actually believe you. Jonathan’s feathers shuddered at the thought, but he worried out loud that the uber wealthy critters might be able to elect Strumpy because they wanted to become even wealthier and more powerful.
Jonathan pondered all this as he flew toward the sunrise. The sun was coming up, but he knew that there were storm clouds on the horizon.
__________________________________________________________________________________________
SAD CLASSROOMS
Every summer sailing wannabes troop down to the Lake Merritt Boating Center to learn how to sail, paddle a canoe, and handle a kayak, etc. But before they venture out on the water, classroom instruction is required; it’s much safer that way. And during the school year, many students take field trips to learn about how to reduce pollution in Lake Merritt. Where does that instruction take place? In a dingey, windowless, unheated, un-air conditioned room that was designed to be a garage more than a classroom. Indeed, the adjoining spaces are garages and storage areas. And that is the main classroom. Overflow classes are held in one that is even worse. Educational equipment is inadequate, or lacking entirely.
This has been happening for decades. The Boating Center was built in 1954, 70 years ago. A suggestion was made during the Lake Merritt Master Plan to tear them down and replace them with a two story structure having boat storage on the bottom, and classrooms with a biology/water quality laboratory above, but that didn’t make the short list of recommended improvements.
Education is a foundational piece of Oakland’s future, but it should not have to occur in such classrooms. If replacement is unaffordable, modern educational equipment and a comfortable environment should at least be provided.
THE LAKE MERRITT INSTITUTE ARCHIVE
Do you want to access years of information about Lake Merritt, including bird columns, occasional poetry, water quality and history? If so, then go to the Internet Archive, specifically the records from :
https://web.archive.org/web/20231009190425/https://lakemerrittinstitute.org/
There you will find documents from December 9, 2001 to 2024. Just click on one of the black lines at the top of the page, and you will see a recreation of the Institute website for that date. Recent history, including photos, bulletin board posters, trash data, and the Tidings newsletter are revealed at the click of a mouse.
__________________________________________________________________________________________
POLICE CONTACTS FOR LAKESIDE PARK
Making a personal connection about an issue is always a good way to work toward resolution.
For Lakeside Park, the Area Police Captain is Alan Yu:
[email protected]
The local Sargent is Josiah Ladd:
[email protected]
The Deputy Chief is Tedesco:
[email protected]
If you see something wrong, say something. The squeaky wheel gets the grease.
__________________________________________________________________________________________
To unsubscribe and stop receiving future issues of Lake Merritt Dispatch, reply with STOP.
(1) https://www.oaklandreport.org/p/we-can-balance-oaklands-budget-without?triedRedirect=true
WATER QUALITY – Hypoxia
Lake Merritt is not the only place where deadly oxygen levels in the water are happening. Consider this quote from the National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science:
“Harmful algal blooms (HABs) and hypoxic events (severe oxygen depletion) are some of the most scientifically complex and economically damaging coastal issues challenging our ability to safeguard the health of our nation’s coastal ecosystems. Almost every state in the U.S. now experiences some kind of HAB event and the number of hypoxic water bodies in the U.S. has increased 30 fold since the 1960s with over 300 coastal systems now impacted. A 2006 study shows that the economic impacts from a subset of HAB events in U.S. marine waters averaged to be $82 million annually (2005 dollars). However, just one major HAB event can cost local coastal economies tens of millions of dollars, indicating that the nationwide economic impact of HABs is likely much larger.”
I don’t know of any calculations regarding what the Lake Merritt HAB and Fish Kill of 2022 cost Oakland, but I suspect it did not enhance local real estate values. Given that, and the cost to the city to remove the thousands of dead fish, it seems prudent to invest in hardware (as well as plans) to prevent future hypoxia conditions in our downtown estuary. Such investments could include removal of sediments by dredging (which is long overdue), additional aerators, and storm drain filters to reduce nutrient loads in urban runoff.
On August 24th and 25th, near the bottom at station two in Lake Merritt, oxygen levels were 0 to 3 mg/L for 13% and 21% of the time, and never rose above 5 mg/L. This data is from the City of Oakland Lake Merritt Public Dashboard. https://www.my.laketech.com/public-portal/LakeMerritt. Lake Merritt’s oxygen problem continues. __________________________________________________________________________________________
A SAFETY / SECURITY / SOCIAL STATION (SSS)– Why not in Lakeside Park?
Across from the lawn bowling facility, just up from the bandstand beach, sits an abandoned little building. Formerly, snacks and bever-ages were sold here to folks traveling along the main road through Lakeside Park. It is not in bad shape, and has electricity.
Given the spate of shootings, arson, burglaries, window smashing and threatening characters plaguing the park, why not establish a security station here? Situated near the park entrance, it is highly visible to anyone entering the park, whatever their intentions are.
From this modest building could be dispensed: snacks, water, park information (e.g. nature/science/art classes, sailing lessons, gondola information, volunteer opportunities, gardening opportunities, etc.), brochures for job opportunities and educational programs, social counseling contacts, etc. In addition, the station could sell pepper spray and emergency whistles, provide tips for remaining safe, contacts for legal assistance, rewards for stolen property, who-to-call numbers, and (when a police officer stopped by for free coffee), conversations with cops, which would go a long way to dispel some false narratives and generate community support. Staffing would provide jobs, or volunteers who like to chat with park users could be recruited. Hired security guards could use it during darkness hours.
It could house drones that could be launched to follow thieves. A hotline to city police dispatch would speed up response time. High powered strobe light alarms and a fire sensor could protect the building, which could model security hardware provided by companies seeking customers for their products such as steel doors, UV activated ink, motion sensor alarms, unbreakable windows etc. The station could become a go-to place for businesses seeking such information. It could expand upon the Lake Merritt Conservancy / Laney College “Oasis” concept, with which information could be shared (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5nHJ2yuOA0A).
Bollards would protect the station from cars seeking to smash the building. Screens linked to live cameras in the park would provide extra security, much like is commonly used in secure buildings everywhere. That is not an invasion of privacy.
The community, city police, city staff, council and mayor, and political candidates all need to rally behind this proposal, which would not be expensive, would protect city investments, and would make Lakeside Park a secure location to visit. If you would like to help implement this proposal, email [email protected].
__________________________________________________________________________________________
Lake Merritt is not the only place where deadly oxygen levels in the water are happening. Consider this quote from the National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science:
“Harmful algal blooms (HABs) and hypoxic events (severe oxygen depletion) are some of the most scientifically complex and economically damaging coastal issues challenging our ability to safeguard the health of our nation’s coastal ecosystems. Almost every state in the U.S. now experiences some kind of HAB event and the number of hypoxic water bodies in the U.S. has increased 30 fold since the 1960s with over 300 coastal systems now impacted. A 2006 study shows that the economic impacts from a subset of HAB events in U.S. marine waters averaged to be $82 million annually (2005 dollars). However, just one major HAB event can cost local coastal economies tens of millions of dollars, indicating that the nationwide economic impact of HABs is likely much larger.”
I don’t know of any calculations regarding what the Lake Merritt HAB and Fish Kill of 2022 cost Oakland, but I suspect it did not enhance local real estate values. Given that, and the cost to the city to remove the thousands of dead fish, it seems prudent to invest in hardware (as well as plans) to prevent future hypoxia conditions in our downtown estuary. Such investments could include removal of sediments by dredging (which is long overdue), additional aerators, and storm drain filters to reduce nutrient loads in urban runoff.
On August 24th and 25th, near the bottom at station two in Lake Merritt, oxygen levels were 0 to 3 mg/L for 13% and 21% of the time, and never rose above 5 mg/L. This data is from the City of Oakland Lake Merritt Public Dashboard. https://www.my.laketech.com/public-portal/LakeMerritt. Lake Merritt’s oxygen problem continues. __________________________________________________________________________________________
A SAFETY / SECURITY / SOCIAL STATION (SSS)– Why not in Lakeside Park?
Across from the lawn bowling facility, just up from the bandstand beach, sits an abandoned little building. Formerly, snacks and bever-ages were sold here to folks traveling along the main road through Lakeside Park. It is not in bad shape, and has electricity.
Given the spate of shootings, arson, burglaries, window smashing and threatening characters plaguing the park, why not establish a security station here? Situated near the park entrance, it is highly visible to anyone entering the park, whatever their intentions are.
From this modest building could be dispensed: snacks, water, park information (e.g. nature/science/art classes, sailing lessons, gondola information, volunteer opportunities, gardening opportunities, etc.), brochures for job opportunities and educational programs, social counseling contacts, etc. In addition, the station could sell pepper spray and emergency whistles, provide tips for remaining safe, contacts for legal assistance, rewards for stolen property, who-to-call numbers, and (when a police officer stopped by for free coffee), conversations with cops, which would go a long way to dispel some false narratives and generate community support. Staffing would provide jobs, or volunteers who like to chat with park users could be recruited. Hired security guards could use it during darkness hours.
It could house drones that could be launched to follow thieves. A hotline to city police dispatch would speed up response time. High powered strobe light alarms and a fire sensor could protect the building, which could model security hardware provided by companies seeking customers for their products such as steel doors, UV activated ink, motion sensor alarms, unbreakable windows etc. The station could become a go-to place for businesses seeking such information. It could expand upon the Lake Merritt Conservancy / Laney College “Oasis” concept, with which information could be shared (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5nHJ2yuOA0A).
Bollards would protect the station from cars seeking to smash the building. Screens linked to live cameras in the park would provide extra security, much like is commonly used in secure buildings everywhere. That is not an invasion of privacy.
The community, city police, city staff, council and mayor, and political candidates all need to rally behind this proposal, which would not be expensive, would protect city investments, and would make Lakeside Park a secure location to visit. If you would like to help implement this proposal, email [email protected].
__________________________________________________________________________________________
WATER QUALITY: Funding is lacking
Efforts to maintain and improve Lake Merritt water quality are hampered by lack of funds, and a lack of overall management philosophy. The lawn bowlers focus on lawn bowling; Fairyland focuses on fantasy and the infrastructure needed for their survival; and the Junior Center focuses on art/science classes and restoration of their arson damaged building. The Camron Stanford folks focus on history, art, and events. The Chalet focuses customers and food. The Garden Center is heavy on gardens; the Weed Warriors on maintaining the landscape; the Rotary Nature Center Friends on nature, and the Lake Merritt Institute on trash pick-up. Lake Merritt Commons focuses on writing about water quality, and lakemerritt.org tries to bring them all together.
Although the lake is one big reason these organizations are here, which of them pays for, and implements water quality improvements, and without which Lake Merritt could become very nasty? Which of these competing interests is funding removal of urban runoff contaminated sediments, construction of a wetland in the channel to remove pollutants, installation of storm drain filters to keep hypodermic needles out of the water, or deployment of aeration devices to prevent another fish kill?
The answer, in general, is none. The agencies listed above have their own issues, but water quality is taken for granted. Beleaguered city staff face budget deficits, and long lists of unfunded capital projects. State environ-mental regulators fund studies, but cannot require projects to be built unless permits are violated. Volunteers pick up trash piece by piece, but cannot install a storm drain filter. It is left to funding by bond measures (and an occasional hired contractor) to fight trash, maintain oxygen levels, improve wildlife habitat, and keep nuisance algae growths at bay. Is it enough? Water quality monitoring, seasonal inflows of trash and continued listing as impaired by the U.S. EPA all indicate the answer is no. So, who could provide funding?
Oakland is not a wealthy city, but there is wealth. It resides in a few large corporations (such as Kaiser, Wells Fargo, Safeway, Target, and Clorox), a few individuals, and some entities such as the Port of Oakland, which has a 2024 budget of 558 million dollars.
In Atlanta, Coca Cola funds a city park about the same size as Lakeside Park as much as several million dollars per year. As a result, the park thrives and generates additional money from its own businesses. It is managed by a non-profit conservancy that oversees park improvements, and 90 percent of the Park's daily maintenance care and security.
Piedmont Park in Atlanta is supported by the Coca Cola Foundation, UPS, Kaiser Foundation, Bank of America, Home Depot, Invesco, Norfolk Southern Railway, and other corporations.
The Piedmont Park Conservancy was founded in 1989 to revitalize the rapidly deteriorating park. Since then, it has raised and invested $66 million in the restoration and enhancement of Piedmont Park and making it, once again, the most visited green space in Atlanta (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piedmont_Park#cite_note-ParkConservancy-38). This author lived near there for several years, and reading about it is almost like reading about Lakeside Park, except that Lakeside Park has problems of infrastructure, safety, and water quality.
The moral of the story is: If Lake Merritt is to have adequate water quality and well maintained parklands, it needs corporate sponsorship. Which corporations will step up? The Lake Merritt Conservancy is in contact with the City Administrator, and is poised to accept grants. https://www.oaklandparks.org/lake-merritt-conservancy/
__________________________________________________________________________________________
POLITICS – Endorsed Candidates Websites
Charlene Wang – At Large: https://www.charleneforoakland.com/
Zac Unger – District One: https://www.zac4oakland.com/
Baba Afolabi – District Three: https://babafordistrict3.com/
Noel Gallo – District Five: https://www.noelgalloforoakland.com/
Ken Houston - District Seven: https://kenhouston.org/
Ryan Richardson – City Attorney: https://www.ryanforoakland.com/meet_ryan
JUNIOR CENTER FOR ART AND SCIENCE – Grand Re-opening
After two fires and years of being physically closed, the Junior Center of Art and Science at Lake Merritt is back and open for business! There are so many ways everyone can help the Junior Center bring positive energy, activity, and services back to this part of Lake Merritt. Their newly renovated space is beautiful, and certainly could be used to hold a community meeting. There are lots of ways you can help...
The Rotary Nature Center and wildlife refuge is beginning to create a community-led redevelopment plan. Input will be sought from stakeholders regarding the ponds, security, program / activity access, and other issues. Director Sonomia Byrd will be leading the planning effort. Imagine, inspire, invest, and experience Oakland with the Nature Center! https://www.oaklandca.gov/topics/rotary-nature-center
__________________________________________________________________________________________
For further details on Lake Merritt, review the posts at “Lake Merritt Commons” on Facebook.
Efforts to maintain and improve Lake Merritt water quality are hampered by lack of funds, and a lack of overall management philosophy. The lawn bowlers focus on lawn bowling; Fairyland focuses on fantasy and the infrastructure needed for their survival; and the Junior Center focuses on art/science classes and restoration of their arson damaged building. The Camron Stanford folks focus on history, art, and events. The Chalet focuses customers and food. The Garden Center is heavy on gardens; the Weed Warriors on maintaining the landscape; the Rotary Nature Center Friends on nature, and the Lake Merritt Institute on trash pick-up. Lake Merritt Commons focuses on writing about water quality, and lakemerritt.org tries to bring them all together.
Although the lake is one big reason these organizations are here, which of them pays for, and implements water quality improvements, and without which Lake Merritt could become very nasty? Which of these competing interests is funding removal of urban runoff contaminated sediments, construction of a wetland in the channel to remove pollutants, installation of storm drain filters to keep hypodermic needles out of the water, or deployment of aeration devices to prevent another fish kill?
The answer, in general, is none. The agencies listed above have their own issues, but water quality is taken for granted. Beleaguered city staff face budget deficits, and long lists of unfunded capital projects. State environ-mental regulators fund studies, but cannot require projects to be built unless permits are violated. Volunteers pick up trash piece by piece, but cannot install a storm drain filter. It is left to funding by bond measures (and an occasional hired contractor) to fight trash, maintain oxygen levels, improve wildlife habitat, and keep nuisance algae growths at bay. Is it enough? Water quality monitoring, seasonal inflows of trash and continued listing as impaired by the U.S. EPA all indicate the answer is no. So, who could provide funding?
Oakland is not a wealthy city, but there is wealth. It resides in a few large corporations (such as Kaiser, Wells Fargo, Safeway, Target, and Clorox), a few individuals, and some entities such as the Port of Oakland, which has a 2024 budget of 558 million dollars.
In Atlanta, Coca Cola funds a city park about the same size as Lakeside Park as much as several million dollars per year. As a result, the park thrives and generates additional money from its own businesses. It is managed by a non-profit conservancy that oversees park improvements, and 90 percent of the Park's daily maintenance care and security.
Piedmont Park in Atlanta is supported by the Coca Cola Foundation, UPS, Kaiser Foundation, Bank of America, Home Depot, Invesco, Norfolk Southern Railway, and other corporations.
The Piedmont Park Conservancy was founded in 1989 to revitalize the rapidly deteriorating park. Since then, it has raised and invested $66 million in the restoration and enhancement of Piedmont Park and making it, once again, the most visited green space in Atlanta (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piedmont_Park#cite_note-ParkConservancy-38). This author lived near there for several years, and reading about it is almost like reading about Lakeside Park, except that Lakeside Park has problems of infrastructure, safety, and water quality.
The moral of the story is: If Lake Merritt is to have adequate water quality and well maintained parklands, it needs corporate sponsorship. Which corporations will step up? The Lake Merritt Conservancy is in contact with the City Administrator, and is poised to accept grants. https://www.oaklandparks.org/lake-merritt-conservancy/
__________________________________________________________________________________________
POLITICS – Endorsed Candidates Websites
Charlene Wang – At Large: https://www.charleneforoakland.com/
Zac Unger – District One: https://www.zac4oakland.com/
Baba Afolabi – District Three: https://babafordistrict3.com/
Noel Gallo – District Five: https://www.noelgalloforoakland.com/
Ken Houston - District Seven: https://kenhouston.org/
Ryan Richardson – City Attorney: https://www.ryanforoakland.com/meet_ryan
JUNIOR CENTER FOR ART AND SCIENCE – Grand Re-opening
After two fires and years of being physically closed, the Junior Center of Art and Science at Lake Merritt is back and open for business! There are so many ways everyone can help the Junior Center bring positive energy, activity, and services back to this part of Lake Merritt. Their newly renovated space is beautiful, and certainly could be used to hold a community meeting. There are lots of ways you can help...
- Donate! to the Junior Center
- Share the information below with your lists
- Post about their reopening online along with your words of support
- Like and follow the Junior Center on their social media platforms -- Facebook, Instagram, Website
The Rotary Nature Center and wildlife refuge is beginning to create a community-led redevelopment plan. Input will be sought from stakeholders regarding the ponds, security, program / activity access, and other issues. Director Sonomia Byrd will be leading the planning effort. Imagine, inspire, invest, and experience Oakland with the Nature Center! https://www.oaklandca.gov/topics/rotary-nature-center
__________________________________________________________________________________________
For further details on Lake Merritt, review the posts at “Lake Merritt Commons” on Facebook.
Lake Merritt Dispatch newsletter © 2024 Richard L. Bailey