Reduced parking lot for proposed Aquatics Center
On June 2, City Council will consider a revised parking strategy for the proposed Aquatics Center at Jean Sweeney Open Space Park, centered on a smaller 50-space onsite parking lot paired with operational measures rather than expanded parking infrastructure or paid parking. The Aquatics Center was originally proposed with a 71-space parking lot. In June 2025, the Planning Board reduced that to 67 spaces [1]. Later, the City Council directed staff to study a further reduction to a 50-space lot before construction approval.
[2]The planned operational measures rely heavily on shared parking agreements, including overflow parking at the College of Alameda and potentially Marina Village’s Research Park, along with off-site employee parking, time-limited parking, and incentives for biking, walking, carpooling, and transit use. Staff argue this approach will meet projected demand while minimizing neighborhood spillover and supporting the City’s climate goals.
A parking analysis found demand could exceed onsite capacity during peak summer periods, but staff conclude that operational strategies will be more effective and less disruptive than expanding the lot or implementing paid parking systems. Recommended measures include reserving College of Alameda parking for employees, offering transit and bike incentives, pursuing overflow parking agreements, and limiting parking to 90 minutes to two hours. The Recreation and Parks Department also proposes a 5% discount for visitors arriving by transit, bicycle, or walking.
Staff specifically reject recommendations for a larger parking lot, paid parking, dynamic pricing, expanded enforcement staffing, parking technology investments, and neighborhood permit parking programs, arguing that charging for parking at the Aquatics Center could push drivers into nearby residential streets or adjacent private lots that would remain free. Staff also emphasize that the proposed plan aligns with the City’s Climate Action and Resiliency Plan by encouraging alternatives to single-occupancy vehicle use and reducing emissions associated with a larger parking lot.
How to participate
The meeting will be held on Tuesday, June 2, at 7 p.m. in the City Council Chambers, located on the third floor of City Hall, 2263 Santa Clara Avenue.
Members of the public are welcome to participate in person or via Zoom. They may comment on the Non-Agenda, Consent Calendar, and Regular Agenda portions of the Meeting Agenda [4] (link downloads document).
The Non-Agenda portion of the meeting provides an opportunity for members of the public to address the Council regarding any matter not on the agenda over which the Council has jurisdiction. The Consent Calendar is intended for routine items and is approved by a single motion. The Regular Agenda is the central portion of the meeting, where each issue receives a presentation and time for Council discussion and public comment.
Complete this online form [5] to request reasonable accommodation.
Click here [6] for Zoom registration. The Zoom phone number for telephone participants is 669-900-9128; the Meeting ID is 876 0180 4624.
Information to assist with remote participation is available online in the Public Comment and City Council Meeting Guide [7]. The meeting can also be viewed on the City of Alameda’s Facebook page [8]. Note that comments posted there are not monitored.
For each issue, public speakers will have three minutes to speak if fewer than five are speaking, or two minutes if five or more are speaking.
Community members may also email Council Members [9] on issues of interest before meetings.
Contributing writer Karin K. Jensen covers boards and commissions for the Alameda Post [10]. Contact her via [email protected] [11]. Her writing is collected at https://linktr.ee/karinkjensen [12] and https://alamedapost.com/Karin-K-Jensen [13].