The Emeryville Greenway has been lauded for its creative conversion of a former rail spur into a walkable/bikeable path that has become a centerpiece of the north-east Emeryville neighborhoods. In fact, it was recently selected for a Merit Award from The American Planning Association California Chapter Northern Section.
Sadly, city leaders have not made completing the project a priority and work on the path has languished since the Berkeley border connection was completed in 2012. This may finally be changing as construction on the “Peladeau Park” AKA Stanford-to-Powell segment is finally underway after a four-year delay.
Back in 2012, we wrote this story acknowledging the city receiving a grant to complete this segment that has been a dirt and weeded patch for as long as most of us can remember. Groundbreaking was expected to begin in Spring 2013 and be complete within six months “barring any unexpected delays”.
Apparently these unexpected delays came to fruition as it is now four years later that construction has begun. “The project was delayed due to the need for remediation and the prioritization of other grant funded activities with more immediate critical deadlines from funders” according to Community Development Coordinator Amber Evans.
Bay Construction of Oakland was originally awarded the project but withdrew after their lowball estimate was deemed the result of a clerical error. A $1.38 million contract with McGuire and Hester was approved by council at the May 2nd council meeting.
$200K will come from the City Transportation Facility Impact Fee fund and $828,792 was awarded from the California State Parks Department.
In addition to plaza entrances, bay-friendly landscaping and seating, the park will include:
- A double line of trees creating a canopy over the pathway
- Green screens of adjacent walls
- A concrete ping-pong table
- Decorative striping to acknowledge historical rail lines
The project will also feature a Windspire Vertical Axis Turbine that will power the lighting on the path. The model is said to be the same as the one at Crissy Field in S.F.
The Broken Rack pool hall has been anticipating the construction of this park since it moved to this spot from the Public Market in 2014. The Rack will open up their wall that faces this park and have outdoor patio seating. The wall facing the park will also feature a mural as part of the new city Public Art Committee murals program.
Completion of this project is expected by this winter. The next segment will behind the Grifols parking lot and connect to the South Bay Front bridge to Bay Street which is expected to break ground next year (yes, delayed yet again we’re told). From here, it will connect to the Sherwin-Williams project that is expected to break ground in mid-to-late 2021.
When complete, the path will offer a diagonal path through our city that will extend all the way from West Berkeley to Mandela Parkway in West Oakland.
This story and others made possible through the contributions of our supporters.
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So Sherwin Williams will have new housing after all plus a dog park, assuming the land is free of contaminants? Are any pet supply or bike shops opening?
We’re a long way from determining what retail will go in there but a cafe and bike shop are high on many people’s list.
Great article, Rob!
There should be a directional sign on the north side of 59th Street, opposite the end of the Greenway, directing pedestrians and cyclists east to Doyle. And another sign at Doyle and 59th directing pedestrians and cyclists north on the multi-use route.