This timeline documents the effort to rename Jackson Park.
Experience an interactive timeline of the effort to rename Jackson Park.
- 1865 – San Francisco and Alameda Railroad opens “Alameda Park” resort.
- 1867 – Alameda Park real estate subdivision opens
- 1874 – Alameda Park Homestead opens
- 1909 – Parks and Playground Commission adopts Jackson Park name
- 2018 – Petition to Rename Jackson Park
- 2020 – City denames Andrew Jackson Park
- 2021 – City adopts “Chochenyo Park” name.
1865 – San Francisco and Alameda Railroad opens “Alameda Park” resort.
1867 – Railroad subdivides land creating the “Alameda Park tract”
1874 – Subdivision renamed the “Alameda Park Homestead”
1889 – City of Alameda attempts condemnation to gain title to land for a public park.
1894 – After five years, City of Alameda gains title to park.
1895 – Alameda’s first public park opens.
1909 – Alameda’s first park renamed after Andrew Jackson.
1909 – Nationwide resurgence of white supremacy
Three new city parks opened in Alameda in 1909. The Parks and Playground Commission and City Council adopted the names of Lincoln Park, Washington Park, McKinley Park, and Jackson Park to honor U.S. Presidents.
F.N. Delanoy, president of the Commission told the Council, “The desire of the Playground Commission in bestowing the names of presidents on the parks is to inspire the school children with the achievements and deeds of these illustrious men.”
There is “no known reason” why Alameda chose to honor Andrew Jackson, according to City of Alameda staff.
The year 1909 is the year the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) was founded. The erection of Confederate monuments peaked during this era in which anti-Asian exclusion and anti-Black Jim Crow laws became the law of the land. Congressman Joseph Knowland sought to exclude Japanese from Alameda in 1909 (Alameda Argus) and Alameda’s first racially restrictive covenants emerged to preserve some neighborhoods as “exclusive” and whites-only.
2017 – Renewed effort to remove racist monuments globally.
- August 2017 – White nationalists held a “United the Right” rally in Charlottesville, VA to protest the removal of a monument of Confederate General Robert E. Lee. In response to white supremacist violence, cities across the country, including Alameda, host vigils against hate. An Alameda synagogue is vandalized.
- September 2017 – East Bay Express publishes a series focused on racist monuments in East Bay, but list excludes Alameda. A noose is left at Alameda High School.
- October 2017 – List of Alameda schools, parks, and streets with racist namesakes published.
- December 2017 – Haight Elementary School PTA and Principal and Alameda school board asked to rename Haight School due to namesakes racism.
2018 – Initial call for renaming of Jackson Park
- March 2018 – Park and Recreation Commission discusses request to rename Skate Park at Alameda Point.
- April 2018 – Rasheed Shabazz calls for renaming of Jackson Park.
- April 3 – Petition launched to Rename Jackson Park. Park and Recreation Commissioners receive letter requesting renaming of Jackson Park documenting Andrew Jackson’s treatment of Black and Indigenous people. Commissioner Ruben Tilos critiques historical facts presented.
- May 2018 – Public campaign to rename Jackson Park begins.
- May 10 – Public comment requesting Commission recommend the City Council rename Jackson Park. Presentation of documentation of Andrew Jackson’s oppression of Black and Indigenous people and call to memorialize oppressed communities. Commission discusses City renaming policy.
- June 2018 – Commission reviews City Renaming Policy and discusses process to Rename Jackson Park. A history of Jackson Park presented.
- July 2018 – Community meeting with Jackson Park neighbors about potential playground at park. Issue of renaming Jackson Park does not appear to be included in discussion.
- September 2018 – Commission discusses issue of Jackson Park within conversation about park naming policy.
2019 – Rename Jackson Park effort stalled.
- March 2019 – City solicits new park names via Social Media (Twitter).
- May 2019 – Commission discusses list of new park names for all parks.
- September 2019 – Jackson Park neighbors debate play area for park.
2020 – Rename Jackson Park effort renewed.
- May 2020 – Amid COVID-19, the police murders of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor, a global anti-racist movement reignited.
- June 2020 – Parks Commissioner Barnes requests renaming Jackson Park back on agenda. Commissioner also calls for agenda item related to Diversity policy for Parks.
- July 2020 – Jackson Park denamed and sign removed.
- Rename Jackson Park gathers 1,200 petition signatures for Alameda Recreation and Parks Commission and City Council, but vows to gather signatures until signage removed.
- On July 9, Commission votes 5-0 to rename Jackson Park and immediately remove signage. Commission votes to establish community renaming process and recommend new name to City Council by end of the year. Commission considers list of Facilities’ Names.
- On July 21, City Council votes 5-0 to dename Jackson Park and immediately remove sign.
- On July 23, Recreation and Parks removes the sign. Rename Jackson Park submits petition signatures.
- August 2020 – Community Engagement Efforts
- On August 4, Rename Jackson Park asks community for solicits name suggestions for The Park Formerly Known As Jackson Park.
- On August 5, posters with “Rasheed Shabazz Memorial Park” plastered up at The Park Formerly Known As Jackson Park.
- September 2020 – ARPD Park Renaming Committee convenes.
- On September 2, Rename Jackson Park submits Community Name suggestions to Renaming Committee. (Summary).
- On September 6, Rename Jackson Park member and Park Renaming Committee member Mia Eichel develops “Give us a Sign Project,” to creatively solicit name ideas. (One Pager & Template)
- October 2020 – ARPD Park Renaming Committee solicits name ideas.
- Over 150 name ideas submitted by community members.
- November 2020 – ARPD Park Renaming Committee reviews names.
- On November 11, Subcommittee outlines Name Vetting process for Park Naming Committee.
- On November 14, virtual reception for Creating Our Future installation begins.
- On November 23, the Park Renaming Committee hosted a Community Forum to Rename Jackson Park and published a list of the top 10 names.
VIRTUAL RECEPTION FOR CREATING OUR FUTURE
COMMUNITY FORUM TO RENAME JACKSON PARK
- December 2020 – Parks Commission recommends Chochenyo Park.
- December 2: Park Renaming Committee recommends top four names to Parks and Recreation Commission: Ohlone, Chochenyo, Mabel Tatum, and Justice.
- December 9: Alameda Architectural Preservationist Society publishes one-side of exchange between RJP member Rasheed Shabazz and local preservationist Woody Minor, author of Alameda at Play. Minor advocates for “reverting” Jackson Park to “Alameda Park.”
- December 10: Parks and Recreation Commission votes unanimously to name the park formerly known as Jackson Park to “Chochenyo Park.” The Commission’s recommendation will go to the Alameda City Council in January 2021.
- Alamedan Michael Hulihan presents demand to Rename Godfrey Park to ARPD Commission during public comment.
- December 15: Rename Jackson Park publishes map of parks named after white supremacists.
- December 26: Rename Jackson Park publishes Rasheed Shabazz’ response to AAPS/Woody Minor correspondence.
2021 – City Council adopts Chochenyo Park and considers facility renaming policy.
- January 2021 – City Council decision on Chochenyo Park
- January 13 – Rename Jackson Park hosts “Chochenyo Park Community Dialogue.” Corrina Gould, spokesperson of the Confederated Villages of Lisjan, shares Ohlone history of Alameda.
- January 19 – Alameda City Council votes 4-1 to rename Jackson Park to Chochenyo Park. (Correspondence)
- February 2021 – City Council considers updating renaming policy.
- February 1 – Open Government Commissioner Carmen Reid fails to bring forward effort to eliminate ad-hoc committees.
- February 2 – City Council meeting postponed (Correspondence); Paul Foreman files complaint with Open Government Commission
- February 16 – City Council discusses updating renaming policy. Rename Jackson Park suggest holistic renaming process modeled on New Orleans Street Naming Commission.
- March 2021 – Opponents fail to overturn renaming committee process
- March 1 – Open Government Commission deems Paul Foreman complaint “unfounded.”
- March 16 – City Council discusses updating renaming policy.
- March 17 – City Council and School board subcommittee discuss collaboration to lift up Native American history in Alameda.
- March 18 – Immersive Experience at Chochenyo Park Released
IMMERSIVE EXPERIENCE OF CHOCHENYO PARK NAMING
- May 2021 – City of Alameda Land Back?
- City Council considers contribution to Shuumi Land Tax as part of two-year budget process.
- July 2021 – Chochenyo Park Naming Celebration
- July 29 – City of Alameda hosts naming celebration at Chochenyo Park.
- September 2021 – Facility naming policy reviewed by Boards and Commissions
- September 2 – Historical Advisory Board discusses Facility Naming Policy.
- September 13 – Planning Board discusses Street Naming Policy.
- October 2021 – City Council updates Facility Naming Policy
- November 2021 – Educational signage approved.
- November 18 – Alameda Recreation and Parks Commission reviews proposed Educational Signage at Chochenyo Park. (Exhibit & Presentation)
2023 – City installs Chochenyo Park interpretive signage.
- December 2023 – Educational signage installed.
Timeline of Confederate Monuments
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