Bear’s-Eye View of Alameda for January 28, 2024
This week’s report contains another of my special in-depth features on the City’s wonderful park system. I took advantage of the break in the rain and visited the Jean Sweeney Open Space Park located at the corner of Wilma Chan Way and Atlantic Avenue.
There is also an entrance on the Sherman Street/Atlantic Avenue side with a large parking lot for those that are driving. I have included a Google map of the park for your convenience.
I also put a short video together to show all the features.
This is a huge open space with something to do for everyone of any age. Walkers will find a nicely paved path with plenty of seating opportunities along the way. Runners have a great crushed rock area to speed past slower folks—like my human companion. I was told that this surface is easier on runners’ knees and ankles.
There is a separate paved two-way bike path for the cyclists, and my fellow canines can mix it up on the large open space adjacent to the walking path, as long as we are on leash.
For the little ones there are two huge play structures, and a big old pavilion with barbeques for that special celebration. You’ll also find Norman Moore’s amazing twin mosaic columns entitled Gateway to California. I highly recommend getting your human family members of any size and age down to the park. They will enjoy it while we canines sniff and poop to our heart’s content. A very long leash and poop bags are mandatory accessories.
And yes, there are two rolling stones installations. Sorry Mick and Keith, none of your tunes were included. You probably wanted too much money for the license to play the music. [Editor’s note: They are called Rockspinners, created by Zachary Coffin].
There are also several educational plaques about the old Alameda Belt Line railroad and why the park is named after Jean Sweeney.
In other sights around the city, Alameda gardens continue to burst with color from all the winter bloomers. I have included another four beauties in this week’s report.
Several of these gardens doubled as art exhibit spaces, featuring a traditional rabbit sculpture in one, several metal sculptures in another, and some ceramic totems that were quite eclectic.
I stopped by the old Islamic Center at Ninth Street and Santa Clara Avenue to see if there was any more demo work was going on. To my surprise, there was a huge crane moving pre-build framed walls into a huge two-story structure. I included a before picture of the site when the demo started. Congrats to this group for getting the building permits and starting on the construction.
One of the little libraries scattered all over town received a rather humorous book donation this week. FARTS – A Spotter’s Guide was prominently featured at the little library on Alameda Avenue. [Editor’s note: Bad dog!]
The sun is out today, and the weather is pretty good for the end of January. I am heading out now and plan on getting back in time for the 49ers / Detroit Lions championship game. There is always lots of dropped food at a football game!
Good luck ’Niners!
