Parks commission unanimously approves moving Alameda Little League majors games to Lower Washington (fall 2026) and Tillman (spring 2027)

The Alameda Recreation and Parks Commission voted unanimously July 8 to relocate Alameda Little League’s majors‑division games from Littlejohn Park to Lower Washington Park for the fall 2026 season and to Tillman Park (Bay Farm Island) for spring 2027.

Commission staff presented the recommendation after a spring trial at Littlejohn drew neighborhood concerns about parking, crowding and transitions between back‑to‑back games. Director Justin Long said staff evaluated spring and fall 2025 usage, community feedback from two meetings, and the department’s field allocation priorities before proposing the moves.

"Lower Washington was identified as a suitable site for fall because it already hosts other groups and includes a parking lot and off‑street parking," Long said. He added that Tillman Park’s central field could host spring games with arrangements available to use a nearby school parking lot to reduce street impacts.

The staff plan proposes weekday limits (Monday–Thursday, one game per night) and up to four games on Saturdays; staff also offered an option to split some Saturday games between Tillman and Wood Middle School to keep local impacts manageable. Long said Little League leadership is supportive of the alternative locations while lower‑age Little League practices and games would continue at Littlejohn.

Public commenters and league representatives urged quick action: online speaker Rick Breslin, a board member of Alameda Youth Basketball and Alameda Little League, said the league has grown about 10% each year since the pandemic and now serves more than 800 children, noting the imminent demolition of school diamonds increases the urgency for field capacity.

Commissioners pressed staff on mitigation and equity considerations, including how the athletic facility allocation policy was applied, how alternatives were weighed and whether Title IX impacts were assessed. Long said ARPD’s prioritization ranks ARPD programs first, school programs second and youth sports third, and that the allocation review also confirms field sizes and scheduling needs before assignment.

Beyond the near‑term shifts, staff described a long‑term concept for a sports complex on Alameda Point that could add multiple diamonds and fields to address broad capacity gaps. Long offered an order‑of‑magnitude build estimate of about $60–65 million and noted sea‑level rise and other constraints would need to be addressed in any future planning.

Commissioner Adrienne Alexander moved to approve the staff recommendation; the motion was seconded and passed by unanimous roll call (Commissioners Alexander, Birnie, Vice Chair Swartz and Chair Ray Deese voting yes).

The commission’s approval directs staff to implement the recommended relocations for fall 2026 and to proceed with planning steps for spring 2027, with continued coordination on scheduling, parking arrangements and community notifications.