Leona Heights Neighborhood News

by Gordon Laverty

With summer in full swing, the smell of family barbecues and frequent encounters with neighbors out for a walk have been common in our neighborhood lately. Even if you prefer to get away, you don't have to go far for a good place to have a picnic with nearby parks like Leona Canyon and the Trout Ponds.'

As some of you may know, our part of Oakland has long been a place where people have come to relax and recreate. Before our neighborhood was even conceived of and rolling grass-covered hills dominated, the train and street cars would bring folks out our way from downtown Oakland back around the turn of the last century. A hotel was even built here near the intersection of Leona St. and Mountain Blvd.'

Led by the equestrian activities at Mills College, countless horse barns dotted our developing neighborhood, and horseback riding here was as big as TV-watching is today. The Observatory was built and relocated to the intersection of Mountain Blvd. and Leona St. to further the public's access to astronomy.'

As a result of the extensive mining in the area during the early 1900s, early Leona Heights residents like Bud Blair were able to prevent further development and preserve the existing open-space hillsides that frame our neighborhood. Also, as a result of the early mining, the development of the Bermuda Triangle part of our neighborhood was made possible.'

As the place where most outsiders are introduced to our area, we have Leona Lodge, administered by the City of Oakland. A great place to hold a function for a large group, the Lodge was the brainchild of local residents back in the 1950s who wanted a place for the area's growing Boy Scout troop to meet. Since then, the Lodge has hosted a vast array of activities and events.'

I encourage you to get out and explore our neighborhood, walk the streets and hiking trails. It's a rich area we live in, in more ways than one.

Gordon Laverty can be reached at lavertyhillmob2\@sbcglobal.net.