Rob AriasEmeryville Public Market patrons and neighbors have likely noticed the construction activity behind the Market Hall and across from Pacific Park Plaza.
The renovation of the long-anticipated Christie Avenue Park is well underway and will bring needed amenities to the ‘Christie Core’ neighborhood when complete. The park was designed by Hart Howerton and being built by Plant Construction.
The renovation plans were presented at a special community meeting as well as the Parks and Recreation Committee in 2014. The project was approved by our Planning Commission back in February, 2015 [1:36:28].
The previous “amphitheater” park design failed to attract many visitors and the lack of programming left it sparsely used. The renovated park will include amenities such as children’s playground, a fenced off dog park, additional trees and cherished open space.
The Children’s park will also feature Aquatic themed elements including a life-sized spruce plywood whale structure designed by Danish studio Monstrum Playgrounds. Monstrum is credited worldwide for pushing playground design away from the cookie-cutter designs that are prevalent and infusing narratives into their designs.
The whale was custom built and shipped via a freight container and required a crane to lift and position into place. Inside, the whale is equipped with ladders and access to the whale’s mouth, teeth and barnacles. Outside, the whale is covered with platforms for climbing including a slide.
“The revitalized Christie Park will be a vibrant, well-utilized amenity for Emeryville and the greater area,” noted CCRP President Mark Stefan. “With the addition of nearly half an acre to the current land and numerous improvements, Christie Park will be a fun and relaxing place for families, workers and visitors.”
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The expansion of Christie Park will increase our city’s dearth of park space by nearly a half-acre. Recent additions of the Peladeau Park Greenway extension (.4 acres) and the Stanford Park extension (1.74 acres) have increased Emeryville’s current tally to just over twenty-five acres.
The Sherwin-Williams project will add an additional three acres to this total when it is completed.
The grand reopening of Cristie park is tentatively set for September 29th.
This is terrific, and I’m glad it’s going ahead. I’m relatively new to Emeryville (’15) but a long time Oaktown resident.
It looks great. How accessible (for children with disabilities) is the playground?
Thanks for your comment Pam, I reached out to the Public Market regarding this and received the following response:
“We appreciate this reader’s inquiry and are pleased to state that the playground meets accessibility requirements. Specifically, the whale and slide meet ADA requirements and have transfer platforms. Also, a good portion of the play area is on flat surface, with portions of the “kelp” accessible, on a level surface per requirements. The park surface has an accessible path to each equipment type. The surf boards are at “entry height” and meet the requirements, similar to entry height for a swing.”
Any more news about who will occupy the New Seasons Market space? Thanks.
A very popular question. All I can tell you is if/whenever this happens, you’ll read it here first! In the meantime, subscribe, follow, and (if capable) donate to hyperlocal news.
Are you up to speed on the new parking ordnance presented to the city council for adoption. Will this have any impact on the new developments underwaym
What are they building right next to the park? The area behind what used to be the New Seasons building? I’ve been watching it go up, but can’t tell what it’s supposed to be.
Housing units
[…] a little more than a month away from the ribbon cutting celebration of the renovated & expanded Christie Avenue park that will bring a highly anticipated children’s play area and dog run to the […]
[…] reached out to us regarding the construction behind the Grocery Store space facing the renovated Christie Park. This development is “Parcel C2” a 66-unit apartment complex being developed by Avalon […]