DeFremery Park, 1651 Adeline Street, Oakland, Alameda County, CA

A 2016 HALS HEROES PROJECT. The Northern California Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) generously funds a program administered by the Northern California Chapter of the Historic American Landscapes Survey (HALS) to promote the documentation of California's cultural landscapes. The program offers stipends of up to $1000 to qualified persons especially students and emerging professionals to prepare HALS documents.
Significance: The DeFremery estate was one of several wealthy family estates on the west side of Oakland. The Victorian mansion and grounds built for the family would later be converted into Oakland's first municipal playground in 1907 when the city bought it from James de Fremery, Jr.. DeFremery Park was the first playground park established during Oakland's Playground Movement. This park was also a vital location through hard times in American history, from the Progressive era providing refuge for children and elderly women to the Great Depression providing job training for unemployed men. It was also one of the first parks to have a swimming pool. DeFremery Park was also the meeting location for the Black Panther Party to administer social services and rallies for political training. After the death of Black Panther member, Bobby Hutton, DeFremery Park was unofficially renamed Lil' Bobby Hutton Memorial Park, and has hosted a celebration every year since 1998.
Survey number: HALS CA-125
Building/structure dates: 1907 Initial Construction