North Berkeley in Alameda County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

Live Oak Park

1914

— Berkeley History —

Live Oak Park Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, April 5, 2012

1. Live Oak Park Marker

Inscription. Live Oak Park was created in 1914 when the City of Berkeley purchased four acres from landowners R.S. Penniman and Michael O’Toole. Mr. Penniman’s brown shingle house served as the park clubhouse and also, from 1916-1936, as Berkeley’s North Branch Public Library. The Walnut Street bridge over Codornices Creek was constructed in 1915 and an aviary featuring “a nice assortment of rare birds” was added a few years later. Also built at about this time, the tennis courts and the park’s large outdoor stone fireplace became the park’s important features of community life. For generations, the fireplace has been a gathering spot for Boy Scout meetings and family picnics. After the clubhouse was destroyed by fire in 1951, architect Robert Ratcliff designed a new recreation center. The huge wisteria by the children’s play yard is a remnant from the Penniman garden.

Erected 2000 by Berkeley Historical Plaque Project.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Environment • Natural Features. A significant historical year for this entry is 1914.

Location. Marker has been reported permanently removed. It was located near 37° 53.039′ N, 122° 16.158′ W. Marker was in Berkeley, California, in Alameda

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County. It was in North Berkeley. It could be reached from Shattuck Avenue near Berryman Street. Touch for map. Marker was at or near this postal address: 1301 Shattuck Avenue, Berkeley CA 94709, United States of America.

We have been informed that this marker is no longer there and will not be replaced. This page is an archival view of what was.

Regionally, this marker was in California’s San Francisco Bay Area

and on the Coast Ranges.

It was also on the American Pacific Coast.

Globally, it was in North America,

on the Ring of Fire,

in the Pacific Rim,

in the Western Hemisphere,

in the Western World,

and in the Anglosphere.

Historically, it found itself in what was once New Spain

and also Mexico’s Alta California.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this location: Site of Napoleon Bonaparte Byrne House (about 500 feet away, measured in a direct line); Site of Hunrick Grocery Store (approx. 0.2 miles away); Peet’s Coffee & Tea (approx. ¼ mile away); Juice Bar Collective (approx. ¼ mile away); Edward A. Brakenridge House (approx. 0.3 miles away); North Branch Berkeley Public Library (approx. 0.3 miles away); Berkeley Municipal Rose Garden (approx. 0.4 miles away); North Berkeley Congregational (Grace North) Church (approx. 0.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Berkeley.

Also see . . . Live Oak Park - City of Berkeley. The City Council authorized the purchase of the park site in 1914 for the price of $87,000, bought on installments. The park opened to the public on June 1, 1916. (Submitted on April 7, 2012, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California.)

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, April 5, 2012

2. Live Oak Park Marker

The marker is on the Live Oak Theatre building.

Live Oak Park image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, April 5, 2012

3. Live Oak Park

The wisteria at the children's play yard. image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Joseph Alvarado, March 29, 2022

4. The wisteria at the children's play yard.

Credits. This page was last revised on February 7, 2023. It was originally submitted on April 7, 2012, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 1,199 times since then and 80 times this year. Last updated on March 30, 2022, by Joseph Alvarado of Livermore, California. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on April 7, 2012, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. 4. submitted on March 30, 2022, by Joseph Alvarado of Livermore, California. • Syd Whittle was the editor who published this page.