East Oakland Youth Sports Center is an underrated, quality facility. Oakland neighborhoods often operate in silos, so some coaches and sports organizers living elsewhere in the city were surprised to hear about this facility even though it opened 11 years ago. The 25,000-square-foot center, located in William Patterson Park, has fitness, aquatic, and dance centers; a baseball field (although not well maintained); a playground; and plenty of grass for free play or potential future development. When the center opened, future unfunded phases called for an outdoor competition swimming pool, a two-court basketball gym with an elevated running track, three soccer fields, and additional parking. 33 The center features a water slide, activity pools, a two-lane lap area, lazy river, and zero-depth entry pool – designed shallow so parents in the community feel comfortable teaching their child to swim. Dance, gymnastics, and martial arts classes are available. The $25.2 million facility’s development was led by former Oakland City Council President Larry Reid through multiple
sources, including $11 million from a 2002 bond measure allocating $198 million for better parks and cleaner water. More programming and publicity could increase facility usage.
MOST COMMONLY USED SITES TO PLAY SPORTS
Brookfield Field Bushrod Recreation Center Chabot Field Dimond Recreation Center Montclair Field Stone Hurst Field
Note: 4%-7% usage by youth Source: Aspen Institute Youth Survey
STATE OF PLAY OAKLAND
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