Port of
Oakland Dedicates the Observation Tower at Middle Harbor Shoreline Park in
Honor of Chappell Hayes
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.”