Maxwell Park Neighborhood News

by Sarah Hipolito

Claire Antonetti, chair, B&B NAT and Robert McGillis, standing in front of the proposed Maxwell Park Gateway project. Photo by Nick Lostracco

Nice Place to Walk'

Once upon a time, before the I-580 freeway bisected the neighborhoods, families used to freely walk to shopping, recreation, and school. Since then the neighborhoods have been divided by the large, noisy freeway, with only few places for pedestrians or bicyclists to cross. Boy, do we need a comprehensive community-planning effort to improve the MacArthur Boulevard corridor linking Seminary Avenue, Mills College, the Maxwell Park neighborhood and the Laurel commercial district!

That is why the Maxwell Park Blight and Beautification Neighborhood Action Team (B&B NAT) is working hard to develop the concept of a gateway to Maxwell Park (under the I-580 freeway, at MacArthur), and the gateway project is moving into high gear.'

Led by NAT chair Claire Antonetti (a recipient of Jean Quan's Local Hero award), neighbors Robert McGillis and Nommi Alouf are working to make the dream become a reality. Also involved are Jean Quan's Chief of Staff Richard Cowan, Mills College, Caltrans, AC Transit, and City of Oakland's Traffic Department and Community and Economic Development Agency (CEDA).

To garner further support for the plan, 559 neighbors helped define the project by answering a carefully designed B&B NAT survey, while Mills graduate Alysha Nachtigall authored a policy analysis of the plans to link the neighborhood and Mills to the Laurel. The Oakland City Council voted unanimously to support the project, which permitted David Ralston of CEDA to write a proposal for the Caltrans Community-Based Transportation Planning Grant for a feasibility study.'

The project will address traffic flow, pedestrian pathways, safer crosswalks, bicycle lanes, a small park beneath the freeway, and landscaping that will extend around Mills College to Seminary Avenue.'

The visual enhancements will be an inspiration to everyone, whether driving, walking, biking, or jogging as they pass from Maxwell Park to the Laurel shopping district. The changes in the traffic lanes will slow traffic and provide safety for pedestrians. Bus stops will be more accessible and new landscaping will soften the impact of the overbearing concrete freeway.

The persistent hard work from this small group of Maxwell Park neighbors will contribute greatly towards the improvement of our neighborhood. If a group this small can make a difference, imagine how their efforts could be strengthened by the participation of a few more good neighbors. Do you have a skill that could support this or other projects the B&B NAT is working on? Want to meet neighbors and become a part of the community that seeks improvement? You have nothing to lose but your boredom on those nights when the TV has nothing interesting to offer.

The key to the success of any NAT is the diversity of its members. Between us, we possess the knowledge, skills, and abilities to make inspiring changes in our environment. With the experience and energy generated by a few good folks working together, this group will continue to make amazing strides in its quest to reduce blight by beautifying our neighborhood.

Claire Antonetti, B&B NAT chair, 535-1663

Sarah Hipolito can be reached at shipolito\@sbcglobal.net.