Entrances at 711 Highland Avenue and 305 Wildwood Avenue. back to top, Parks with Open Turf Area This belief and the sign posted on the quarry rim have discouraged swimmers, Hein said. Dracena Quarry Park is a repurposed quarry. Then the first quarry in Alameda county was opened. The place is known as Blair quarry, at the western edge of the park. town of Piedmont, California, on the eastern side of the San Francisco Bay Dracena Quarry Park is a beautiful, clean and versatile park to add to your arsenal. Here's a quick list of some of my favorite spots to get out and play in Piedmont: Dracena Quarry Park: A hidden neighborhood gem on eight acres of land in a literal abandoned rock quarry. This time extensive preparations were made for blasting. You will then receive an email that helps you regain access. East Bay . Phils art is going to be up for two more weekends. no place for small dogs, so, as always, use caution and your best judgement. I seem to remember that birthday parties are allowed on a first-come basis, but tables, chairs or other formal party equipment arent allowed in Piedmont parks. Dracena Park is a park in Alameda County. (HTTP response code 503). The quarry was started in 1852 by Walter Blair, at the head of Pleasant Valley Creek (now culverted under east Grand Avenue), and supplied stone for Oakland's first streets. Anomalies of Sausal Creek: The Floodplain. Thus was born Blairs rock quarry, which operated until he struck water. Unlike the daunting nature of the slide at Cordonices Park in the Berkeley Hills, this stone slide is just his size. Address. Your access to this service has been limited. This city's plan to develop the Dracena Park Quarry has brought a "scurrilous" letter to the state Parks and Recreation Department. History of Alameda County, California The undergrowth is claimed to be very dense in places, while nearer the shore the blades are long and the edges very sharp. The house is a short walk to Piedmont's prestigious public schools, Dracena Park, Piedmont Park, the Piedmont Recreation Center, and the Piedmont Center for the Arts. Pingback: Top 7 East Bay Area Photography Locations For Family Photos - Site Title, Your email address will not be published. The grassy lawns are on-leash. Across from the bench is a large tree and an open area. Piedmont Park. The pond is surrounded by a series of high bluffs, crowned on their tops by a long row of sparse gum trees, Bulrushes and water plants fringe the edges of the tiny lake, the gloomy surface of which is in striking contrast to the green, blossom-carpeted banks above. This was also the edge of a quarry he created. Coaches Field It is known for certainty that at least twelve unfortunates have entered the water never to emerge from it alive, but for how many more deaths it is responsible will probably never be known, for the fatal hole never voluntarily gives up its dead. We didnt bring any bikes or scooters along, but we saw plenty of other preschoolers burning rubber around the closed loop through the back of the park. There's also a fun playground for when they get tired of scooting. The climbing wall and rocky hillsides are fantastic for my adventurous older kids, while the sand and play structure is perfect for the littles. The play area has swings, a structure, plenty of sand, a climbing wall, and a wide cement slide in the center. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); On the lower foto there seems to be plenty of fresh debris to take a piece home for closer examination. Daily articles and a weekend planner help you find whats fun and free when you need it. It was built in 2013and 14 as Cole Beckers Eagle Scout project. Ft. house. Your email address will not be published. The street car system at that time was practically controlled by one man named Blair. 8, 1896. The city has Dracena Quarry Park has paved paths that snake through its upper and lower areas. Dracena Quarry Park is a neighborhood park, so parking isnt always easy. Piedmont. Bushy Dell Creek is an area of paved, hilly walking trails which parallel a wooded creek where dogs are allowed. The quarry he started in the 1850s, now near the foot of Blair Avenue, is now Dracena Park. Dracena Park, Piedmont Park, the Piedmont Recreation Center, and the Piedmont Center for the Arts. Prior to 1872 there was not even a suggestion of water on the spot. The subterranean spring seemed to have struck its gait at least. Charlene then took us over to the parks lower entrance on the left. Update on Arbor Day 2019 . View from top of Mountain View Cemetery | photo by Tim B. Piedmont activities for babies: Register to join Nanci's Musiktime for children 0-5 years old. Open weekdays 7:00 am to 8:00 pm; weekends 8:00 am to 8:00 pm. Wordfence is a security plugin installed on over 4 million WordPress sites. With plenty of variety, it'll keep preschoolers and elementary kids occupied for hours. Parking is very limited. Beach Play Field 130 Dracena Ave. Piedmont, CA. To enter the dog run directly, use the Dracena Avenue entrance. Continuing down the trail through the park's redwood and eucalyptus grove provided relief from the heat. expected to clean up after your fur baby. All its gruesomeness may be gone, and as a power for evil it may be dead, but it died hard, for at a certain time in the afternoon, during the summer months, at the right time for swimming, a great reflection is cast on the waters due to a cliff formation and the somber trees a warning to all swimmers in the shape of a gigantic deaths-head. Before the astonished workmen has time to realize what happened they were knee deep in the flood. 15 acres of land including a community center, tot lot, lawn, two tennis courts, and creek. After it was closed, the City of Piedmont used it as a maintenance yard, then converted it to a splendid park with an enchanting lawn surrounded by a walkway. Piedmont. Hampton Field includes tennis, volleyball, and basketball courts, as well as a baseball field, backboard, play structure and children's pre-school. They spent several hours clambering up and down the hillsides hunting for alien rocks, inventing games and getting as dirty as possible. Update on Dracena Park Tree Removal, New Tree Planting and Path Restoration 5. Information is available atwhiteelephantsale.org. Others maintained that a monster like an octopus made the lake its home, and one or two highly imaginative ones declared on oath that once, early in the morning on a summers day, that they had seen the devilish creature basking in the sun on a pile of rock and that it slid into the water, making a sound between hiss and a groan as it disappeared. However, there are still believed to be others reposing in the depths. By Anna Azimi / May 13, 2016. Spanning 6,479 square feet, the central Piedmont home is just a short walk to Piedmont Park, Witter Sports Complex, and Dracena Park. Archery Trade Association (ATA) Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation. It's held in the small brick building to the right of the library trailer. Dracena Quarry: This Piedmont park has a great little enclosed loop that's ideal for younger kids scooting. Use tab to navigate through the menu items. Contact Us. There's also a wooded dog park area if you're bringing Fido along. Piedmont Sports Field (Hampton Field) Beach Play Field. It . Their complete outfit was taken, and it is supposed that occasionally the robbers, to sore the public from their haunts, took advantage of the many ghost stories and fitted up a fake specter for their own protection. Consideration of Heritage Tree Designations for 2019 6. The promoters of the Piedmont Park subdivision, in company with Walter Blair, mostly if not all, are now passed over to the great majority, were James de Fremery, James Gamble, L. A. Booth, Timothy Barker, A. W. Bowman and others. Search. Through this portion there is a much lower temperature than at any point. I wish Id brought their bikes as I think they would have loved racing the loop pathway through the back of the park. Dracena Quarry in the hills of Piedmont offers giant trees, bridges, plenty of green grass, a tree stump picnic table and a unique playground. Id shy away from barefoot frolicking for the kiddos at this park. If the waters could speak as they flow they might tell the tale of three suicides and possibly one murder. Pro tip: Be cautious with new walkers, stone is not so forgiving. Park goers have long noticed strong fencing intermittently installed around the quarry sides placed to keep rocks from falling on those enjoying the park. Some who have investigated say the bottom is now covered with a peculiar growth of weed and sword grass. The grassy lawns are on-leash. Dracena Quarry at the Artuna Entrance At the corner of La Salle Avenue and Hampton Road. $12,750,000 345 Hampton Rd 5 Bed 5 Bath 7633 SqFt. One of the last fatalities occurred within recent years, when a schoolboy, with some companions, went swimming. Eight acres of space including a children's play area and lawns in the lower area. There are still many large eucalyptus, but the area is clean and new red- woods have been planted. This is the place to look for fast and easy access to our projects. The direct entrance to the Creek is from Wildwood Avenue next to Witter Field. There, Charlene told more of the parks history. Park is a repurposed quarry. The city has applied to the state for a grant to complete the Dracena Park Quarry. Dracena Park is a repurposed quarry pit in lower Piedmont. Charlene said someone took an ax to its wood posts and crossbars a few years ago, and now the posts are covered by copper caps. As far as neighborhood parks go, it's very But it is probable that Deputy Sheriff P. J. Keiler laid the ghost about four years ago when he broke up a robbers den located on the shores and landed the chief of the gang in San Quentin. A fierce combat, it is said, followed between them, and finally a pistol shot rang out on the quiet night, followed by a heart-rending shriek, a death moan and the splash of a body falling into the water. ), Clarke Swim Center: Swimming Pool with Inflatables in Walnut Creek, Best Bay Area Beaches You Can Visit Today, Fun Things To Do in the East Bay This Weekend: July 29 30. The park starts out as a sloping strip of grass that leads to a children's playground updated in 2006. . At the entrance is a sturdy, attractive new play complex; to the north is a narrow ravine where the headwaters of the creek once flowed. Material displayed is not to be used without permission of the owner. Along the way we looked for a childs Fairy Garden in front of a home and Disney Frozencharacters stenciled on the sidewalk. Material displayed is not to be used without permission of the owner. Park Size: Large Small Dog Area: No Fee: None Description The town of Piedmont, California, on the eastern side of the San Francisco Bay Area, is a small community with a lovely neighborhood dog park. It is said at one time, strangely shaped fish inhabited the lake, though at present there is not know to be a living thing in it. Prospective bidders can view drawings, order prints, upload files and much more. The San Francisco Examiner - Wed - Mar. Hampton Field (Piedmont Sports Field) Copyright 2010 2022 by 510 FAMILIES INCcontact | RSS | privacy policy | giveaway policy | native land acknowledgment, Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window), Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window), Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window), Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window). They hung around for awhile, hoping the flow would cease and they could return to work, but it did not stop and the vast quarry was tuned into a lake. historians and geologists occasionally lead tours of the area. With plenty of variety, itll keep preschoolers and elementary kids occupied for hours. earthquake, the rock outcroppings could become quite dangerous. Piedmont: A walk through city's past Share this: Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to print (Opens in new window) Indeed, one of the best attributes of this park is that the back is enclosed and your precocious little ones cant easily escape. On the way through the park they passed the beautiful wooden bridge the Becker family helped build in 2014 on the site of an original bridge crossing a ravine in the park. The Piedmont branch of Oakland Public Libraries (80 Echo Ave) hosts a cute toddler story time on Wednesday at 10:15 am. Piedmont Sports Field (Hampton Field) A permit can be obtained through the Police Department. So sudden was the deluge that within an hour where once stood a prosperous quarry nothing was to be seen but a rising mass of water. Bees. Instead of diminishing, the volume of water increased, and finally, after many useless attempts, the first rock quarry and of the richest in Alameda county, was abandoned. This bridge was demolished in the early 1960s after it had fallen into disrepair. Dracena Park ADA Improvements; Concrete Repair; Current Bid & Proposal Opportunities. You can still see some of the nicks in the railings. ), Clarke Swim Center: Swimming Pool with Inflatables in Walnut Creek, Best Bay Area Beaches You Can Visit Today, Fun Things To Do in the East Bay This Weekend: July 29 30. Dracena Quarry Park (pathway from Dracena Ave to Artuna Ave) We read more, Evolution FC is a community based, non-profit youth soccer club in Daly City. Dracena Quarry Park 22, 1952: ROCK QUARRY BORN Ever alert to the demands of a growing Oakland, Blair noticed outcroppings of rock in his Piedmont acreage and noted, too, that Oakland's streets needed rock. The large lawn is on-leash area for dogs. back to top. Preschoolers were playing in the tot lot near a climbing wall. View the department's Operations page for more information. Required fields are marked *. Dracena Park is situated nearby to Piedmont and Broadway Auto Row. $1,325,000 63 Fairview Ave 2 Bed 1 Bath 1170 SqFt. Website > Ever alert to the demands of a growing Oakland, Blair noticed outcroppings of rock in his Piedmont acreage and noted, too, that Oaklands streets needed rock. In vain the pond was dragged, and the use of explosives was of no avail. Open weekdays 7:00 am to 8:00 pm; weekends 8:00 am to 8:00 pm. To the right of the softball field is a path leading directly to the dog run. At the top of the park on Dracena Avenue Priscilla took over forCharlene and led us down Dracena to Blair Avenue. It is very close to the children's There is an enclosed off-leash dog run which can be accessed from Linda Ave, Linda Ave & Lake Avenue, or Oakland Avenue & Sunnyside Avenue. During the past years three persons have disappeared in the vicinity and two hats have been found at odd times on the surface of the pond. Jackson and Sara Lillevand, Piedmont's city administrator, made an hour-long presentation Thursday night summarizing the public process to this point and explaining the current state of play as to where 587 new housing units could be accommodated (if not actually built). These calamities, occurring at such frequency, caused the popularity of the lake as a swimming hole to drop several points. It was a lovely, cool winter morning in Piedmont this Wednesday. Coaches Field A permit is required for the off-leash area. A fence was constructed around the entrance and notices posted to the effect that anyone caught swimming would be prosecuted. The quarry was originally opened in 1852 and We live in the Dracena Park area in Piedmont. There is a The water is over sixty feet in depth. There could either be a passive recreation with the existing pond, or an active recreational grassy field by draining the pond. Bushy Dell Creek is an area of paved, hilly walking trails which parallel a wooded creek where dogs are allowed off-leash with a permit. An off-leash dog run is in the upper area in the narrow Redwood Canyon. The dog run is not fenced, and there is Hammering it would just ruin the great outcrop. Mapcarta, the open map. However, before the walk started there were announcements. Parking is very limited. Everyone called it Blair's quarry. Beach Play Field Later around the turn of the 21st Century, the tot lot play area was renovated with citizens input, including from children. From the near center, the main flow of water shoots upward in a spiral column, then it traverses nearly half the length of the pond, where the current ceases. and plants to catch the attention of any little botanist, and, because the park They were not residents of Piedmont but had come from either Oakland or San Francisco. If you think you have been blocked in error, contact the owner of this site for assistance. stone slide, and a few redwood picnic tables. The tell this time was the drowning of two boys; one of them took a dive and never came to the surface, and the other, when in a certain part of the lake, suddenly threw up his arms and with a shriek, disappeared beneath the waters as if some power beneath had dragged him under. Charlene also told its history. Men with picks, shovels, blasting tools soon began to eat a great hole in the hill; tracks were laid and handcarts carried the rock away to fix up the tracks of the Blair system. The kids wanted a climbing wall and swings, while the adults wanted restrooms. A permit can be obtained through the Police Department. Great for kids of all ages with plenty of shady benches for adults. poke around. A long search underneath was at last rewarded by finding the remains of the poor lad tightly clutched in the grasp of the tenacious sword grass. The owner of this site is using Wordfence to manage access to their site. Besides being a duck pond, filled in areas are used for growing plants and a small nursery has been built. Piedmont edged Pryor 1-0 in the first semifinal. Kennelly Skate Park. So deep is the water that when a platform for the park department greenhouse was wanted, more than 200 truckloads of rock and dirt were required to make the fill. There's enough different flowers Access from your area has been temporarily limited for security reasons. Park in Piedmont that was formerly a rock quarry. are still blue rock outcroppings that overlook parts of the park, and amateur The lad was at home in the water, and the youngsters all followed him in. Entrances at 711 Highland Avenue and 305 Wildwood Avenue. Im eager to come back and poke around these rocks some more with my hammer left at home, of course. The quarry A forecast of 90 degrees made the beautiful, cool red- wood grove of Dracena Park an appealing destination for the Wednesday Walkers last week. Chinese coolies worked in this quarry; for years their foreman was a Spaniard by the name of Antone Schuman. Eight acres of space including a children's play area and lawns in the lower area. Traffic Enforcement Traffic Officers are primarily involved in the enforcement of traffic laws (Vehicle Code and Municipal Code), responding to traffic-related complaints and the investigation of vehicle collisions. MLS# 40989856. Quick Links. Beach Playfield Charlene was going to share some history about the park that she had researched from the HistoryofPiedmont.com website, and other sources. Piedmont Park This post is about the Blair Quarries, and this photo. 6 Pacific Ave, Piedmont, CA 94611 is a 3,450 sqft, 5 bed, 3 bath home sold in 2007. It was a great morning for a walk not just because of the weather, but also because Charlene L with Priscilla Ws assistance was going to lead us down to Dracena Park. Youre totally right on that! Entrances on Linda Avenue and at Oakland & Sunnyside Avenues. There's a small grove of Redwoods with an elevated bridge over a August 1, 2019 at 5:00 a.m. PIEDMONT A new tradition may be starting in town free Shakespeare in the Park with a dollop of culture under the trees at Dracena Park quarry. New Real Estate Listings In/Near Piedmont. started out as a quarry, there are a number of amateur geologists who love to With acknowledgment that the region we celebrate is the unceded territory of native peoples, our mission is to share activities for East Bay families. This map also displays the NWS Arkansas-Red Basin River Forecast Center's rainfall estimates (in color) across Oklahoma based on radar. Oakland Tribune - Thu - Jun. The main line ran from Seventh and Broadway to the cemetery gates with feeders from Sixteenth street depot along Fourteenth, a branch from Alameda and another from Piedmont Avenue through waving grain field to Piedmont Springs. 6 Pacific Ave, Piedmont, CA 94611, USA offers 3+ bedroom apartments for rent or lease. They entered at the top of Dracena Park, and walked through the park to the lower part on Artuna and Ricardo Avenue. The rock thus obtained was used in macadamizing Oaklands principal streets. $1,998,000 169 Ronada Ave 3 Bed 3 Bath 1769 SqFt. View the department's, City of Piedmont | All Rights Reserved | Powered by, List of Parks, Sports Fields, & Dog Parks. See the estimate, review home details, and search for homes nearby. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. So when they ventured into the back of the park and found the rocky hillsides full of Mars Rocks!, they were in seventh heaven. At that time a firm of stone contractors named Bates & Wells, realized that hidden in the hills was a quantity of very valuable paving rock, which then commanded a big price from the city of Oakland. The temperature started to rise and we experienced something we hadnt for a while, being warm on aWednesday walk. ceased operations around the turn of the 20th century and was made into a park. Dogs are allowed, At the corner of Crocker Avenue and Hampton Road. Hampton Indeed, there has not been a Coroner in Alameda county since 1875 until the present time who has not been obliged to record on the death rolls some victim of the weird pond, and, strangest of all, each of the martyrs to the dismal hole has been a good swimmer. A large lawn welcomes visitors to the Upper Dracena area on Dracena Avenue. The The second alternative was picked. And then one day, when the workmen had gotten well into and down in the hillside, something happened: A great flow of water shot high in the air, of such volume and rapidity that the workmen dropped their tools and scrambled from the hole for their lives. Piedmont Park, Parks with Skateboards Packed with drop-in classes, free storytimes, and seasonal festivals, our events calendar will help you plan your weekend and your summer vacation. An historic place that is a must-see. Required fields are marked *. $1,850,000 79 La Salle Ave 3 Bed 2 Bath 2176 SqFt. Dracena Quarry A permit is required for the, At the corner of La Salle Avenue and Hampton Road. For Sale For Rent. But the evil genii, or whatever it was that haunted the place, did not dies with the quarry, and at regular and frequent intervals some youngster was drowned in the black pool. Oh, and dont forget, stone slides tear up pants! The cold currents and dangerous weeds, together with the weirdness of the whole thing, made him glad when his onerous task was over, so no further investigations were attempted. Wrinkled oak before my Bella's behind, in the behind. not provided any dog poop bags, so be prepared to bring your own, as you are Dogs are allowed on-leash only. off-leash dog run next to the redwood grove. Located on Moraga Avenue between Coaches Field and Maxwelton Road. They conceived the idea of opening an extensive quarry and getting the citys contract for the paging which was to be done. Connect with your neighborhood on Nextdoor. After the recent rains it seemed the entire city was ready to go for a walk. dog is welcome in the rest of the park, but she must be leashed. The park is more beautiful than ever and the Public Works Department should be commended. Walking down Magnolia allowed the group to see the walls of the high school's new classroom building going up Continuing down Magnolia, they admired the newly repaved street.

Salisbury Customer Service, Articles D