[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 149 (Thursday, October 15, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2545]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      HONORING THE OFFICE OF PARKS AND RECREATION, CITY OF OAKLAND

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. BARBARA LEE

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, October 15, 2009

  Ms. LEE of California. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the 100th 
Year Anniversary of the City of Oakland's Office of Parks and 
Recreation (OPR). On July 25th, at an Old Fashion Community Celebration 
at deFremery Park, local families, sports enthusiasts and nature lovers 
celebrated what has been accomplished in one century: 100 parks, 2,500 
acres of open space, 26 recreation and community centers, and the 
innumerable rewarding activities Oakland residents enjoy because of 
them.
  In 1909 both the Playground and Park Commissions were formed. During 
the Playground Commission's first meeting, they allocated $600 for a 
vacation program at two school grounds and established a Playground 
Division under the Department of Public Works. One year later, the 
first municipal playgrounds opened at the deFremery, Bushrod and 
Bayview sites. The City also issued a million-dollar bond to purchase 
lands around Lake Merritt.
  Today, we recognize the true worth of those initial investments. In 
addition to offering recreation services in athletics, science, art, 
aquatics, boating, gardening, music, and culture, Oakland's parks help 
foster a sense of community ownership. One OPR motto, ``Play with a 
Purpose,'' illustrates an important point. It reminds us that healthy, 
outdoor play is an essential part of our wellbeing and personal growth.
  Over the last 100 years, Oakland Parks have transformed, mirroring 
the rich culture and history of the surrounding community: In 1932, 
Oakland's first Municipal Rose Garden opened its doors; the deFremery 
recreation center housed servicemen in December of 1941, nine days 
after the Pearl Harbor attacks; a camp for children with disabilities 
and a Senior Citizen program were created in 1948, and ten years later, 
the award-winning Arroyo Viejo Children's Theater opened, but succumbed 
to fire in 1970.
  There have been Japanese Gardens, golf courses, children's folk dance 
festivals and choruses. Children's Fairyland, visited by Walt Disney 
while he developed his Disneyland concept, was the first theme park in 
the nation designed for small children. But, during inevitable change, 
one constant has remained: Oakland Parks' steadfast accessibility to 
people of all ages, abilities and interests.
  The variety and scope of Oakland Parks' community participation is 
vast. For example, OPR recreation centers host Radical Roving 
Recreation programs that provide social, health and life skills 
development for underserved young people. The Golden State Warriors 
basketball team Makin' Hoops Program helps to renovate basketball 
courts and provides athletic services. On a national scale, the U.S. 
Olympic Trials for canoe and kayak flatwater sprint were held at Lake 
Merritt in 2004.
  This year, Lakeside Gardens also celebrates its 50th anniversary and 
OPC intends to return the gardens to their original splendor. Oakland 
has much to look forward to as the Office of Parks and Recreation 
continues its commitment to beautify the city and engage park visitors 
in a shared civic pride.
  I am confident that exciting partnerships and programs such as these 
will continue to thrive under the guidance of OPR's excellent 
leadership. In the next 100 years, the City of Oakland, partnering with 
the Office of Parks and Recreation, will continue to encourage 
community values, physical activity and personal development through 
the beauty of its open spaces.

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