Alameda Recreation and Parks Commission Meeting – May 18, 2026
Alameda Recreation and Parks Commission Meeting – May 18, 2026
The Alameda Recreation and Parks Commission met on May 18, 2026, to receive updates on departmental projects, hear public comments regarding the potential Alameda Little League MOU, and discuss upcoming events and park improvements. The meeting included staff reports, commissioner communications, and a presentation on 2026 capital projects.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Jay Ingram (former AGSA board member) spoke about the MOU between Alameda Little League and the city for use of Little John Park. He argued that the park is too small for the 10–12 year old division, that changes to the park have negatively impacted neighbors, and that Little League should go through the standard field allocation process rather than receiving exclusive use. He urged the commission not to approve the MOU if it comes before them.
- Jill Ingram echoed support for the neighborhood, stating that the park is not a good fit for the majors division and that the community wants to retain public access. She requested continued notification via flyers rather than relying on websites or social media.
Staff Communication
- Justin Long, Recreation and Parks Director, provided updates on upcoming community events: Volunteer Coastal Cleanup (second Saturday each month), Alameda Walk Series (May 16 and May 23), National Kids to Parks Day (May 16 at Jean Sweeney Park), Play for the Parks golf tournament (May 18), Jitterbug concert (May 22), Memorial Day closure (May 25), Unity Fest (June 13), Sand Castle Contest (June 20), and 4th of July events (5K race and parade).
- Park improvements reported: Harrison Center painting, Lincoln Park vegetation and irrigation upgrades, Lincoln Park fitness equipment installed, Mastic trip to Roaring Camp Railroad, and a book signing event.
- Director Long announced the indefinite closure of the rock spinners at Jean Sweeney Open Space Park for engineering review, and vandalism at Godfrey Park pergola requiring closure of half the picnic site.
- Safety fencing improvements at Lincoln Park field will begin June 8, requiring closure of the driveway and parking lot for approximately six weeks.
- The department is considering adjusting office hours to Monday–Thursday with Friday by appointment; a public survey will be issued early next week to gather feedback.
- Discussions have begun with AUSD regarding a formal joint use agreement as part of the Emma Pool funding strategy.
- Summer registration started slower than last year but has picked up; remaining slots are available. The department is conducting a recreation assessment to align programs with community needs over the next five years.
- Scholarship funds are approximately 50% consumed so far, with full use expected by year-end; donations are accepted.
Commissioner Communications
- Commissioner Alexander reported attending Little League games at multiple parks and the Mother’s Day swim at Encinal Pool, praising staff creativity. She noted the Friends of the Parks golf tournament is sold out but donations are still accepted.
- Commissioner Bernie thanked ARPD for well-maintained parks that enabled him to train for the Boston Marathon, which he completed while raising funds for a cat shelter.
- Vice Chair Schwartz shared that his parents used ARPD facilities during a visit: they enjoyed Aqua Warrior class and lap swim, but found Mastic program orientation requirements and 12-week commitments limiting for drop-in visitors.
- Chair Radies described positive experiences with Encinal Pool staff while his son trained for a swim test, but noted difficulty finding information about pool closures (e.g., Mother’s Day swim closure). He suggested improving phone accessibility and weekend standby number awareness (510-775-5459). He also spent time observing Little John Park to better understand community perspectives.
Discussion Items
- Approval of Minutes: The commission unanimously approved the minutes from the April 9, 2026 meeting.
- 2026 Recreation and Parks Department Project Updates: Director Long presented an overview of capital projects:
- Sweeney Park trail connectors: paving complete; striping and signage installation next week; expected to open before end of May.
- City View Skate Park: improvements to complete the circuit; construction documents done, in permit review; construction starts October for 2.5–3 months, requiring full park closure.
- Aquatic Center: bids came in $5 million over budget; city council will discuss contract award on June 16; construction expected to start July with a two-year duration; includes 30-meter competition pool, activity pool, and LCD wall for programming.
- Community Garden at Jean Sweeney Park: first phase of 70–100 raised beds; vegetation removal possibly in August; completion expected December 2027; governance model with part-time city staff and volunteer board recommended.
- Franklin Park basketball court repaving: fall 2026, 4–6 weeks; includes ADA improvements.
- Longfellow Park basketball court repaving: spring 2027, 4–6 weeks; additional ADA entrance planned.
- Lincoln Park field netting improvement: June 8 start, 4–6 weeks; closure of driveway and parking lot.
- Lincoln Park pickleball courts resurfacing: after Estuary Park Phase II opens (late 2026/early 2027), 6–8 weeks.
- Estuary Park Phase II: construction ongoing; includes six pickleball courts, basketball court, bank shot, ADA playground, lawn area, two dog parks, and restrooms; expected completion end of 2026.
- Clement Tilden dog parks: two dog parks (large and small) opening spring 2027.
- Lidecker Park playground replacement: construction starts August 2026, 1–2 months; new playground with rubberized and wood fiber surfacing.
- Commissioners asked clarifying questions about construction disruptions, parking at the aquatic center, accessibility priorities beyond ADA minimum, and M&O sustainability given new assets without additional full-time staff. Director Long noted that Estuary Park Phase II will not come with new full-time staff, only part-time dollars.
- Public comment: Liz Warner-Dam (President, Alameda Backyard Growers) expressed excitement for the community garden and thanked staff. Birgit Evans discussed the need for a staff person to handle fee collection and enforcement, while a volunteer board manages bylaws and operations.
Key Outcomes
- The minutes from April 9, 2026 were approved unanimously.
- No formal action was taken on the project updates; the item was informational.
- The next commission meeting is scheduled for June 11, 2026; agenda items will include the Alameda Little League MOU and ADA access improvements at Longfellow Park.
- Commissioner Alexander requested an end-of-summer report on program statistics (e.g., day camp occupancy rates) for the September meeting.
- The meeting adjourned.
Meeting Transcript
How do we give us a h do we give us a h on, so we're gonna give us a Probably 50 to 60 piles of poo uh in the past few months of trying to be a coach and a volunteer in that organization. So thank you again for what you do. I'm out of time and I look forward to working with you guys on trying to find a new home for our majors division for Alameda Little League. It's definitely needed. So thank you. Okay. Next speaker is Jay Ingram. Welcome, Speaker Ingram. And a former AGSA board member, um, want to give some higher level context. I agree with uh what Adam said about finding another location. I'm here to talk about the MOU that might come before you, or maybe it won't, maybe Alameda Little League will pull it back. Higher level context earlier this year, the two basketball, two half court basketball courts were combined into one basketball court. There's a lot of history behind why it was two half courts. I talked with the staff and was unsuccessful. So now and I was told that the Vipers are gonna show up and play there. So now this small park has potentially the Vipers, has the 10 to 12 year old Alameda Little League, and I think you'd have to check with the planning department, Del Monty developer neighbors across the street. Uh they use that park as their open space for their parkland dedication. So if it's got an exclusive view through his little league, it's not open space, it's not parkland dedicated fees. Uh December, we got a notice um about the this agreement that staff and Little League was working on for a community meeting. Uh we asked them to come back for another meeting. Sounded like it was a proposed uh change, but the it didn't really sound like it was proposed. It was sound like it was pretty much a done deal that had been moving forward pretty quickly. Um the changes that have happened in the park in the last nine months have greatly impacted the use, and I think you may be familiar with some of the feedback that the neighbors have provided. Um I will say it kind of follows up what Adam was saying. Little John hosted the little leaguers, the littlest guys, and they've been there for years, and it's been great. So hopefully they'll come back. The ten to twelve will find another place. Maybe the city can work with little league. Um, you know, from this field. They could have put something improvements like this out in a field at the Naval Air Station and worked with the city to have a more permanently permanent home. I just feel strongly in the negotiations that I've been involved with. I feel strongly that Alameda Little League didn't negotiate in good faith with uh the city. And um it didn't seem like going into it that this was going to be a one-year trial. Um I think there's been a little change in the sentiment from Little League that the 10 to 12 year olds this isn't a place, isn't the site for them, it's too small of a park. Uh let's see. If the MOU comes before you, that's what I came for tonight. I wasn't, I thought it was going to be on the agenda, but it's not. So I would ask that you would uh consider it and reach out to some of the neighborhood and the community in regards to some of the details of it because there's a lot of sentiment from the neighborhoods and how this has impacted um the neighbors. Um I feel that Alameda Little League should go through the field allocation process that has been through ARPD for a long time and not get exclusive use of a particular park, regardless of what the school district did to them and so on and so forth. Um let's see. I'll just wrap up by saying the neighborhood park known as Lojan Park is too small to support the 10 to 12 year olds. I think little league is kind of realize on that and their families. I would ask that uh when and if an MOU comes before the park and recreation commission, the recreation park commission, um, that you're not approve it. Um and go from there. I'll leave you with some pictures of the infrastructure that they kind of put in. Um, not kind of, they did, and then I will leave a picture for you, Justin, about the baller, just a reminder as the baller. So, thank you. Next speaker is Jill Ingram. Welcome, Speaker Ingram. Thank you.
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