Making our neighborhood a better place to live!
Working together to find long-term solutions to the problems in the community.

General Information

Who We Are

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The Friends of Bella Vista Park is made up of neighbors and ordinary folks, regularly partnering with Oakland Trybe, the Neighborhood Crime Prevention Council (17Y NCPC), youth-serving organizations such as EBAYC, the Weekend Training Academy, the Bella Vista PTA, and local schools.

What We Do

Community family-friendly events, neighborhood beautification projects and clean-up days, potlucks and ice-cream socials, outdoor movie nights, community gardens, crime-prevention, and block organizing are the major components of what we do.  We're open to doing more!

Friends of Bella Vista Park formed in 2000 to renovate a bleak city park into the community jewel and meeting place it is today.  How we did this is related HERE.

Why We Exist

Our neighborhood is a very diverse place to live.  There are households living on the edge of survival next to those that are solidly middle-class, and everything in between.  Immigrant agencies will often resettle refugees here because, though it is a low-income neighborhood with low rents, it is relatively safe.  It is so easy to get lost and disconnected, especially when there is a spike in crime. 

This partnership of groups exist to provide a "wide-door" for folks in the neighborhood to plug into what's happening. 

When We Meet

We 'meet' mostly informally as we see each other on the street and in the park and on email and Facebook. 

Officially, we are using the last part of the 17Y NCPC meeting on the 2nd WEDNESDAY of every month from 7-8:30pm at Bella Vista School Auditorium (1025 E.28th).  Sometimes, we will go out for drinks after and get business done!

Bella Vista Spruce Ups - Quarterly

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​Saturdays 10am-Noon:  Come together to love our park and weed, plant, spread mulch, pickup litter, remove graffiti, and help finish mural and tile walkway projects!

Where We Are ~ Location

2631 11th Avenue, Oakland, CA 94606

Bella Vista Park is located just below E. 28th street, behind Bella Vista Elementary School. Park entrance gates are located on both on 10th and 11th Avenues. We are in the upper San Antonio neighborhood between Lake Merritt and Highland Hospital.
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Community Events

Join Us!

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Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service
9am-1pm, Monday, January 18, 2021
Come together with Friends of Bella Vista Park and Trybe to love our park and weed, pickup litter, remove graffiti, mural prep and paint skateboard ramps.
Reunion/Planting Day in Butterfly Garden
10am-3pm, Sunday, December 6, 2020
A Reunion of original members of Friends of Bella Vista Park lead a community pollinator planting day in the Butterfly Garden!
National Night Out in Bella Vista Park
5-8pm, Tuesday, August 6, 2019
It is our annual big block party in the park - hot dogs, music, bounce house, your neighbors and YOU. Join us!
10th Annual Halloween Event in the Park
October 31, 2018 - our 10th event!!
Led by youth from Oakland High School, Trybe, EBAYC site staff and parent leaders. Jumpers, food, music, carnival games, costume contest and more! 4-7pm Halloween Party, then trick or treat afterwards!!!
New Mural Projects for the Park!
Check our Facebook page for updates on new projects!
We have created 6 mural projects in the park and school - like the Mosaic Mural Project at the CDC, led by resident artist Pam Consear, completed by youth from neighborhood high schools, Trybe, the Weekend Training Academy and community members.
Quarterly Park & School Spruce Ups
Saturdays, 10am - 1pm - Check the bulletin board in the park and our Facebook page for dates.
Come together with Trybe to love our park and weed, pickup litter, remove graffiti, paint and clean bathrooms, prep for new murals.
Join Us - Be a Friend of Bella Vista Park!