ALAMEDA CITY PARKS - MCKINLEY PARK

ALAMEDA CITY PARKS - MCKINLEY PARK  McKinley Park was the second park opened in 1909 after Lincoln Park and bought the total city parks to three. 

It was originally the site of Oak Shade, a oak forest Northside estate built by the Magil Family in the 1860s.  The land was originally 4 acres and stretched to the estuary.  In 1885 James A. Wymire and his family bought the property.  He was a prominent attorney and politician who managed the California presidential campaign for William McKinley.  He was also a University of California regent.  Over the years the property was transformed into a showplace with exotic plants including palm trees.

 Wymire had a reversal of fortune and the property was foreclosed upon in 1907.  At the same time the City was in the midst of selecting new park sites.  Hibernia Bank offered the property to the City for $24,000 and the deal was consummated in May 1907.  The park was named McKinley Park the second park opened in 1909 partly to honor Wymire and his support of McKinley.

For three decades the park superintendent and McKinley park staff preserve the Oak Shade estate.  It was the headquarters of the park superintendent and it was impeccably maintained.  During the '30s the City fathers decided that the opulent park was unnecessary.  The mansion was taken down, the property size was reduced and the gardens were destroyed.

The only thing remaining of the original park are six palm trees.  The fieldhouse, near the site of the original mansion, and new play equipment are the most recent improvements.  The small park is a popular neighborhood site for kids and their families.

Thompson Field, 2.2 acres at the southwest corner of Clement Avenue and Walnut Street serves as home field for the Alameda high School football team.