Oakley rec heads for full agendaOakley rec heads for full agendaJune 4, 2004
It's been a long time coming, some would say, but the City of Oakley has slowly been building a recreation program that it can be proud of. While there is still some work to do before Oakley's program can match that of Brentwood and Antioch, Oakley's parks and recreation manager, Nancy Kaiser, is well on her way to keeping her promise to have something for everyone to enjoy. The only thing holding the programs back is the participation factor of Oakley's residents.
For the third season in a row, Kaiser and the city kicked off their Summer Family Concert series on May 22 and unfortunately not much of the public came out to participate. While not everyone will be able to attend every concert it would be nice for the city to bring in at least 500 people for their free event. But don't fret, residents will have their chance over the summer months to come to another event, which boasts fabulous music and entertainment for all ages.
No matter what your style of music, Kaiser has come up with a lineup that is sure to meet everyone's needs. In July, the Amazing Harmonatras will be back with their fun-loving children's concert. No one will want to miss Oakley's own Devil Mountain Jazz Band in September. The group has become nationally famous over the years and the chance to get to see one of Oakley's best for free should not be passed up. There will also be a country band and a Beatles-style rock band playing over the summer.
For those who enjoy fishing on the Delta, you won't want to miss Oakley's Wal-Mart All American Fishing Derby on June 19. The event will be sponsored by the City, Wal-Mart and Oakley's Hook, Line and Sinker. It is a free event open to all ages. Prizes will be given out throughout the weekend and to those who pre-register at Hook, Line and Sinker. Those interested can also attend on the day of the event by coming to the Antioch-Oakley Regional Shoreline at the Pier at the end of Bridgehead Road. For details, call the city.
For those who have been looking forward to swimming, the Freedom High School pool is now open to the public for the summer. The recreational swim hours are 1 to 5 p.m. every day. It is $2 per person per day, and there are discount cards available for those interested in taking advantage for the summer. Everyone is invited. The pool area is supervised and Kaiser said it is great for teens.
Swimming lessons are also available in five separate sessions beginning June 14. Lessons are $43 for Oakley residents and $50 for non-residents. There are also lap swimming times available for the series swimmers looking for exercise, water aerobics, teen activities at the pool, and more ideas are still being formed.
Day camps and sporting activities also will be available for kids of all ages this summer. For a complete list contact the city.
In other city news for this summer, the City Council has declared June 5 to June 13 Affordable Housing Week in Oakley. The idea is to call attention to the importance of Affordable Housing throughout Contra Costa County and the city of Oakley.
In support of affordable housing, employees from the city, local developer KB Home, and engineering and building inspection services company LP2A of Pleasanton are joining together to assist with Mt. Diablo Habitat for Humanity's current project to build six single-unit homes for low-income families in Oakley.
The project is set for development on Norcross Lane. Mt. Diablo Habitat for Humanity -- a nonprofit organization that builds and renovates modest, affordable homes for low-income people. For more information on how you might be able to help, contact Suzanne Iarla at the city at 925-625-7015.
Roni Gehlke's column on life in Oakley appears each week in the Brentwood News.
Distributed by the Contra Costa Times