Picture showcasing an entrance to Peralta Historical Park, featuring some of the historical elements of the park like an adobe wall from the original adobe structure from 1840. Source: PGAdesign

History of PHHP and Fruitvale

Human relationships with the parkland have shifted over time, shaped by colonialism, war treaties, and, more recently, community organizing. Along with the rest of the Bay Area, the parkland was originally home to the Ohlone people. Many others, like the Peralta family, laid claim to the area over the years previous to PHHP’s establishment as a park. Today, in addition to typical recreational park uses, PHHP serves the Fruitvale community as a space for youth environmental education programs, community gardens maintained by the Mien community, food distribution center, and community events, such as Rumsen Ohlone basket weaving. The park was established by the city in 1975, and in 1985, the Friends of the Peralta Hacienda Park, a nonprofit organization, was established to restore the Peralta House (funded by the city 1996), and support the park and its community, creating exhibits about the history of the park site and Fruitvale community experiences, and expanding programming for residents of all ages. The park’s unique governance structure, history, and uses will continue to make it an integral part of the Fruitvale and Oakland community fabric for years to come.

In recent years, Fruitvale has been home to many cultural events. The Día de Los Muertos Annual Festival is shown above. Source: The Unity Council

Socioeconomic Context of Fruitvale Today

Since its annexation to Oakland in 1909, Fruitvale has seen a variety of changes both within the context of Oakland and as result of its own dynamics. As its name suggests, Fruitvale was originally a hub for fruit production, but it grew into a commercial and residential haven. In the wake of WWII, a number of manufacturing plants and associated jobs moved into the area, which had mixed-use zoning in response to war-related demand. These dynamics resulted in a “white flight,” particularly as migrant workers arrived to take advantage of economic opportunities. The neighborhood's current characteristics reflect the migration of white Oaklanders to the hills of East Oakland, leaving the flatlands to communities of color.

The Fruitvale neighborhood today is multicultural and multilingual. According to 2019 U.S. Census estimates, over half of the population is Hispanic or Latinx, a community that has expanded rapidly in the past 20 years. The neighborhood is also 16 percent Asian and 15 percent Black. As reflected by its strong Latinx presence, Fruitvale has long been the center of chicano/a and Indigenous community organizing in Oakland. The area boasts a rich history of activism, with a network of advocacy institutions and organizations, such as the well-known Unity Council, Spanish Speaking Citizens Foundation, and the Intertribal Friendship House.

Contemporary Politics & Community Activism in Fruitvale

Climate change is projected to increase Oakland residents’ vulnerability to threats like flooding, wildfire, and extreme urban temperatures. Residents additionally suffer from disproportionate exposure to industrial pollution, as well as emissions from multiple highways, the Port of Oakland, and an international airport — all of which pollute neighborhoods already marginalized by decades of exclusionary zoning practices. East Oakland-based social and environmental justice activists are essential to promoting human and ecological health by advocating against toxic industries and for social and economic justice, with a particular emphasis on immigrant rights and the Indigenous community. This rooted sense of community and organizational capacity has long been a source of resilience for Fruitvale residents as they navigate present-day political challenges, such as green space inequities, food insecurity, racial injustice, COVID-19 disparate impacts, and the housing crisis.