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Residents urge council to drop sand‑volleyball plan at Ocean View Park over redwood and open‑space concerns
Summary
Speakers told the council that a proposed sand volleyball installation at Ocean View Park would remove one of West of San Pablo’s last open meadows, threaten nearby redwood roots and worsen parking and access; residents say more outreach and alternative sites should be studied.
At least three residents told the Albany City Council on Oct. 6 that the city should not convert the Ocean View Park meadow into a permanent sand volleyball court, urging the council to relocate the project and to increase community engagement.
Yishan said they had collected more than 300 signatures and estimated organized opposition exceeds 500 signatures, arguing that Ocean View Park is already heavily used and that removing the meadow would harm equity of access to green space west of San Pablo Avenue. "Simply, the upgrading the existing grass volleyball area with a permanent net would achieve both preserving green space and also provide equal access," Yishan said.
Resident Joe Matera recommended Albany Beach and other sites be investigated as alternatives, and warned that constructing a sand court would require excavating about 3 feet of soil and could damage redwood roots that spread horizontally. Another commenter who identified herself as a licensed structural engineer suggested hosting a moderated public forum with subject‑matter experts and offering technical analysis before the council advances a site selection.
City manager reported that staff had received many comments and that the proposed Ocean View Park volleyball project was on hold while staff reassess potential locations and do more analysis and outreach. The council and staff acknowledged the competing priorities for limited park space, emphasizing the importance of protecting the redwood grove and maintaining open meadow areas.
What happens next: staff said the project is on hold while the city analyzes alternatives and will report back with options; residents seeking to stay informed should monitor albanyca.gov and upcoming staff reports and community forums.
