WASHINGTON PARK ALAMEDA PARKS

WASHINGTON PARK ALAMEDA PARKS  The original site of Washington park was a pristine oak grove bordered by a white sand beach, it was the third park purchased by the city in 1909.  The park site was 4.5 acres and originally owned by William H. Taylor.  After his death his heirs sold the property to the City for $45,000.00.  Washington Park was formally dedicated on February 24, 1912.  Sports teams from Alameda and Oakland competed in soccer, tennis, baseball and basketball.  Gymnastic for children was a popular sport at the park.  Everyone participated in swimming and rowing races in the bay.  The Washington Park boys' Band performed ate the park.  The beach became the single most popular feature in the park system. 

Washington Parks lush lawns and flower beds received lavish care.  The park lost it stand of live oaks because of excessive watering of lawns and flower beds in the 20's.  Monterrey pines were planted in their place and more than two dozen live oaks survive at the park.

In 1955, the Utah Construction Company began filling in tidelands east of Washington Park for its South Shore Development.  The City sold about 40 acres of filled land to the state for development of Alameda State Beach(now Robert W. Crown Memorial State Beach). 

As time passed the city acquired 56 acres of tideland near Washington Park.   In 1975 a 7.5 acre plot below  Washington was acquired and became Lower Washington Park.  Lower Washington Park has a pond near Crab Cove, tennis courts, parking lot, baseball and softball facilities and is a popular location for family picnics. 

The original Washington Park is virtually unchanged.  During the afternoons and weekends it is filled with children playing, families having picnics and people enjoying baseball games.