Zocalo Park Opening in Ashland
Signs welcomes visitors at the Ashland Zocalo Park, which opens July 17 at the corner of East 14th Street and 166th Avenue.
The Ashland community is getting a new park at the corner of East 14th Street and 166th Avenue, courtesy of the Hayward Area Recreation and Park District (HARD), the Trust for Public Land, and a state grant using park development money from 2018’s Proposition 68.
Ashland Zocalo Park will hold its grand opening next Wednesday, July 17, at 2 p.m. The name comes from the neighborhood and the Spanish word for a public square at the center of a city or town.
HARD had hoped to open the park several months ago, but a backlog for utility connections postponed the opening.
“Ashland Zocalo Park promises to be a beacon of community pride, fostering wellness, recreation, and social cohesion for residents of all ages and backgrounds,” said Peter Rosen, president of the Hayward Area Recreation and Park District Board of Directors.
Sitting on a one-acre site in the heart of Ashland, the park will be easy to find due to a unique multi-colored shade structure. It will feature a wide variety of features and amenities for users of all ages, according to the park district. It is around the corner from the Ashland Community Center, whose entrance is on 167th Avenue.
There will be a public plaza for pop-up markets, intergenerational fitness and play areas, an outdoor stage, walking loops, open spaces, and an interactive water feature. Its restroom facilities are adorned with mosaics crafted by Oakland artist Debbie Koppman.
The park replaced a vacant lot in a community where green space can be at a premium. Proposition 68 allocated $4 billion statewide to parks and environmental projects, especially in park-poor communities. Zocalo Park’s location is expected to draw additional visitors as it sits near the Ashland Community Center.
The California Department of Parks and Recreation awarded a $7.2 million to The Trust for Public Land (TPL), a nationwide nonprofit, to develop Ashland Zocalo Park. Since 1972, TPL has protected more than 4 million acres of public land, created more than 5,420 parks, trails, schoolyards, and iconic outdoor places, and more closely connected nearly 9.7 million people to the outdoors.
“This project represents more than just the creation of a park; it embodies our commitment to fostering healthy, livable communities,” said Kira Maritano, senior program manager at The Trust for Public Land.
“Ashland Zocalo Park will not only provide much-needed green space but also support active lifestyles, social connectivity, and a sense of pride in the local community,” Maritano said.