de Fremery Park
de Fremery Park Map
About de Fremery Park in Oakland
De Fremery Park is a historic 9.5-acre green space located in West Oakland, California. The park's centerpiece is a Victorian mansion built in the 1860s by James de Fremery, a successful San Francisco banker. Originally part of a private estate, the property was purchased by the City of Oakland in 1907 and became the city's first municipal playground.
The park has played a significant role in Oakland's history. During the Great Depression, it served as a training site for Works Progress Administration (WPA) recreation leaders. In World War II, the United Service Organizations (USO) hosted social events for African American servicemen at the park. Later, in the late 1960s, De Fremery Park became an important meeting place for the Black Panther Party, who used it to hold rallies and offer social services to the community.
Today, De Fremery Park continues to be a vital community hub, offering a range of recreational facilities and activities for residents of all ages. The park features mature trees and open green spaces, providing a serene environment in the urban setting of West Oakland. The historic Victorian mansion now serves as the De Fremery Recreation Center, hosting various community programs and events throughout the year.
The park is also known unofficially as "Lil' Bobby Hutton Memorial Park," named after a young Black Panther Party member who was killed in 1968. Since 1998, the park has hosted an annual memorial celebration in his honor, further cementing its place in Oakland's cultural landscape.
