Love Our Lake Day is taking place on Sunday, June 9 from 11am to 4pm at Lake Merritt, Lakeside Park and in the surrounding Oakland neighborhoods. Oaklanders and visitors alike are invited to come play in the car-free streets & parks surrounding Lake Merritt and celebrate the area’s transformation through Measure DD!

On Love Our Lake Day, we will be expecting lots of visitors here at the Gardens at Lake Merritt, and we need 8 – 12 Volunteer Ambassadors to welcome our guests. If you would like to join the fun, please send us an email and include your contact information and the times you are available to volunteer with us.

Some additional event info:

The festive event will enrich three miles of car-free streets with recreation and cultural activities for the entire family. At 2pm Mayor Jean Quan will be at the south end of the lake for the Grand Opening of Lake Merritt Boulevard featuring a beautiful new amphitheater and four-acre park. There will be live entertainment by Oakland artists, children’s activities, Oakland food trucks, and information booths and photographs highlighting the many transformative projects brought about by Measure DD, the voter-approved bond for Clean Water & Safe Parks.

The event is presented by the City of Oakland, Walk Oakland Bike Oakland (WOBO) and the Measure DD Community Coalition. For more information about the event, visit LoveOurLakeDay.com or call (510) 444-CITY.

We had a great work day on Saturday, April 17 in the Torii Gate Garden with volunteers of all ages.

The group was comprised primarily of a team from PG&E.

The major focus of our work was beginning a new stone beach for the pond in the garden.

Volunteers also did some excavation to install some electric conduit, and general weeding.

Everyone pitched in and got a lot accomplished.

And there was still time to take a break and check out the gardens’ newest residents– ducklings!