Oakland Memorial Park - Oakland, CA - Signs of History on Waymarking.com

"15 Seconds

On October 17, 1989 at 5:04 pm the Loma Prieta earthquake rocked the Bay Area. Measuring 7.1 in magnitude, the earth shook for 15 seconds. In those 15 seconds a section of the Bay Bridge fell, a fire began in he Marina and on this site, the two tiered Cypress freeway collapsed, killing some outright and trapping others in the cars as the top portion fell sandwiching them between the layers. Before the dust settled, volunteers from the neighborhood began scaling the protruding rebar and rubble to aid, comfort and free the survivors. This Oakland Memorial Park is a memorial to the people who died as a result of the Cypress collapse, and a grateful remembrance to the neighborhood for their heroic action in the minutes following the quake. In even larger context it is a thank you to the people who came from all over the country to offer their assistance or sent donations. As a result of this disaster a nation wide rapid alert system was created.

The Community's Response The Loma Prieta earthquake sent undulating waves through the community as if, as one person commented, Mother Nature was shaking her hips. These ripples have been re-created in the rolling landscape of the park. The arcs of the reminiscent text, the ripples of planting, and the flowering trees bring life to this sacred ground. The 15 seconds wall announces the site to the passerby. The three curved ladders in the plaza are both literal and symbolic. They represent the ladders the community threw up against the fragile structure in the rescue efforts. Symbolically they stand for hope, the community spirit rising from the dust. The creation of this park is to honor all who died, and who came, all who helped, and all who took this tragedy and lifted it up with their spirit. It is a park to be walked, read, a place to sit, to gather, and remember. The Park The overall design of the park reflects the community's remembrances about the ground moving in waves. Waves, undulations, ripples and arcs form the general layout with the epicenter being Story Plaza at the corner of Mandela Parkway and 14th Street. The wave like forms serve as a visual reminder of how the earth rolled during the earthquake. The Cypress Ladders rising from the circular dome of grass twist and undulate as they reach and dance skyward. Stories from the community about the earthquake were shared with the design team led by April Philips Design Works and artists Gilman and Keefer. Words from these stories are imprinted in the paving as reflections of the community's shared experiences of this powerful event. An arced granite seatwall, ripples of planting, and wave shaped walls and ground forms continue the wave theme. Rosemary, the plant in the ripples, signifies remembrance. Rosemary is an herb whose name comes from the Latin word ors and marries meaning spray of the sea. Redwood trees that grew up here in the shadow of the freeway now shade the neighborhood in this place of remembrance.

The Park The overall design of the park reflects the community's remembrances about the ground moving in waves. Waves, undulations, ripples and arcs form the general layout with the epicenter being Story Plaza at the corner of Mandela Parkway and 14th Street. The wave like forms serve as a visual reminder of how the earth rolled during the earthquake. The Cypress Ladders rising from the circular dome of grass twist and undulate as they reach and dance skyward. Stories from the community about the earthquake were shared with the design team led by April Philips Design Works and artists Gilman and Keefer. Words from these stories are imprinted in the paving as reflections of the community's shared experiences of this powerful event. An arced granite seatwall, ripples of planting, and wave shaped walls and ground forms continue the wave theme. Rosemary, the plant in the ripples, signifies remembrance. Rosemary is an herb whose name comes from the Latin word ors and marries meaning spray of the sea. Redwood trees that grew up here in the shadow of the freeway now shade the neighborhood in this place of remembrance.

Group that erected the marker: City of Oakland Address of where the marker is located. Approximate if necessary: Mandela Parkway Oakland, CA USA URL of a web site with more information about the history mentioned on the sign: Not listed

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