City Slicker Farms

FUNDING FOR THE PROJECT

On Monday, November 8, 2010 City Slicker Farms was awarded $4,000,000 for a “West Oakland Park and Urban Farm” project. The funds come from Proposition 84, a California bond initiative approved in 2006, which reserves 5.4 billion dollars in bonds for projects involving water quality and access, park improvements, and natural resources and park preservation.  The funds will be used to purchase a vacant lot in West Oakland at 28^th and Peralta Streets and construct a farm and park there.  The funds are only allocated for purchase and construction, not operations.

WEST OAKLAND PARK AND URBAN FARM

At 1.4 acres, this will be City Slicker Farms’ largest farm site; greatly increasing their ability to grow and distribute food for the West Oakland community.  City Slicker Farms conducted a three-month long community design process with West Oakland youth, seniors, and families to determine what they wanted in the new park.  The design was submitted and, after a lengthy and competitive review process, City Slicker Farms was selected to receive a grant. There were 475 applicants from throughout California, and only 62 were chosen for grant awards.  The “West Oakland Urban Farm and Park” was the second highest award in Alameda County and the 22nd largest award in the state.

Of the seven market farms we operate, this will be the largest and only one owned by City Slicker Farms. A legal structure will be created to ensure that this park remains an open maintained space for all community members to enjoy in perpetuity. The “West Oakland Urban Farm and Park” will contain an abundance of new open space as well as new recreational and educational opportunities. The community has requested that this park include lawn space (to provide ample room for youth of all ages to run, play, and exercise), a vegetable growing area, a community garden, a fruit orchard, a chicken coop, a beehive, a dog run, and a tot lot.  It will be open seven days a week, from morning until night without charge.  City Slicker Farms will collaborate with other community-based groups and individuals to provide ongoing programs and opportunities for the community at the site.

HISTORY OF THE SITE

The land itself was home to a paint factory for 50 years and is currently owned by Peralta Street, LLC. For the past five years, the site has been vacant and fenced off. In 2005-06, the site underwent a thorough Brownfield cleanup process. Under the supervision of the State of California Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC), the site was exhaustively tested, analyzed and ultimately cleaned up. In December 2006, DTSC issued a Certificate of Completion acknowledging successful completion of the cleanup.  In partnership with Peralta Street, LLC, City Slicker Farms will conduct ongoing assessments and maintenance of groundwater and soil. Peralta Street, LLC and City Slicker Farms will start the Purchase and Sale Agreement process in early 2011.  A community engagement and construction schedule will be announced after the purchase is completed.
 

HOW WE CONDUCTED COMMUNITY BASED PLANNING

City Slicker Farms spent three months conducting outreach, surveying residents, and holding meetings to have an inclusive community-based planning process.  City Slicker Farms staff and an experienced landscape architect facilitated each meeting.  The surveys and meetings were a time for residents to share and discuss their preferences and visions for the park.  At the meetings, residents prioritized all the ideas and then gathered together at tables to determine the layout of the park.  The landscape architect synthesized all of the concept drawings into the one posted above.

Here are some examples of our meetings:

Open Community Meeting

City Slicker Farms

1625 16th Street, Oakland

6:30 PM, Wednesday Jan 13, 2010

Open Community Meeting

Willie Keys Recreation Center

3131 Union Street, Oakland

6:30 PM, Wednesday Jan 27, 2010

Hoover Elementary School Students

Hoover Elementary School

890 Brockhurst Street, Oakland

9:20 AM, Thursday Jan 28, 2010

Hoover Elementary School Students

Hoover Elementary School

890 Brockhurst Street, Oakland

1:40 PM, Thursday Jan 28, 2010

Open Community Meeting

Willie Keys Recreation Center

3131 Union Street, Oakland

12 PM, Saturday Feb 6, 2010

McClymonds High School Students

McClymonds High School

2607 Myrtle Street, Oakland

11:30AM, Wednesday Feb 10, 2010

West End Commons Condominium Homeowners Association

Willie Keyes Recreation Center

3131 Union Street, Oakland

6:30 PM, Thursday Feb 11, 2010

Principal, Parents, and Teachers

Hoover Elementary School

890 Brockhurst Street, Oakland

9 AM, Friday Feb 12, 2010

West Oakland seniors

West Oakland Senior Center

1724 Adeline St., Oakland

11 AM, Friday Feb 19, 2010