Published: February, 2004
On Saturday, January 24 at 11:00 a.m., the Port of Oakland along with Oakland City Councilmember Nancy J. Nadel dedicated the newly constructed observation tower at the Port’s Middle Harbor Shoreline Park and named it in honor of Councilmember Nadel's late husband, Chappell Hayes.
The tower is an important component of the new shoreline park funded and developed by the Port of Oakland. The tower was named the Chappell Hayes Observation Tower to honor this respected community leader whose efforts to improve social equity and the environment benefited West Oakland, the City, and neighboring communities, said John Protopappas, President of the Oakland Board of Port Commissioners.
“Chappell Hayes helped influence us. As we strive for sustainability, we are changing the way we build and operate by listening to our neighbors,” said Tay Yoshitani, Executive Director of the Port of Oakland. Hayes was a passionate advocate for his community and the environment and he understood the significance of engendering a commitment to environmental stewardship in our youth, added Yoshitani.
Middle Harbor Shoreline Park is a new 38-acre shoreline park that is part of the Port’s Vision 2000 project designed to provide public access to the Oakland waterfront and the San Francisco Bay shoreline. The park was designed in collaboration with the community. The nearly completed park will feature opportunities for picnicking, wildlife viewing, and public events.
The observation tower is part of the second phase of park development and is situated in the area of Middle Harbor Shoreline Park known as the Western Pacific Mole. This was the area where trains and streetcars met the ferries that crossed San Francisco Bay in the earlier part of the 20th century. It was a transportation hub that joined communities on both sides of the Bay. The observation tower will serve as a landmark for the City of Oakland’s gateway at the point where the Oakland-Alameda Estuary opens out into the Bay.
From the observation tower, a visitor will have a panoramic view of the Oakland Estuary, the San Francisco skyline, as well as the operations of a working seaport. Park goers will be able to observe huge container ships moving in and out of the Oakland seaport. It is directly adjacent to the Hanjin Terminal, where four of our giant container cranes are in use.
Oakland Councilmember Nancy Nadel said, “I am delighted that the work of my late husband, Chappell Hayes, is being honored on the 10th anniversary of his passing. It is very fitting for the Port and the community to come together to pay tribute to a man who was an advocate for social and environmental justice in the community and in port operations.”
