The group gathered at Prescott Market before beginning their guided walking tour at the southeast corner of Oakland’s historic Raimondi Park, one of the city’s oldest parks with a storied history. It is now home to the Oakland Ballers, an independent baseball team that started playing in the Pioneer League in 2024. In addition to Raimondi Park, the walking tour included four stops of interest, including the historic 16th Street train station, the Lampwork Lofts, and the historic flatiron building at the corner of 17th and Peralta Streets.
Upon returning to Prescott Market, guests heard remarks from event sponsor Kaiser Permanente, who noted how the tour helped to highlight the many ways that they engage in Oakland and the broader Northern California region, from place-based support to encouraging health and wellness activities. Alameda County District 5 Supervisor Nikki Fortunato Bas mentioned how important recent investments in the neighborhood have been for businesses and residents. She was followed by Joe Ersnt, Managing Principal of srmERNST Development Partners, whose firm built out the Prescott Market site and continues to bring in tenants to some of the surrounding light industrial and manufacturing sites that draw from the neighborhood’s past. “For many years, we have seen the potential of West Oakland to have greater economic impact, benefiting the neighborhood and surrounding communities; it has been exciting to now see this come to fruition, particularly since the opening of the Prescott Market this past spring,” said Ernst.
Oakland Ballers co-founder Bryan Carmel closed out remarks to attendees, sharing how the team was conceived through a series of what were initially small meetings with him and other community leaders and baseball aficionados who were upset with how Oakland’s former Major League Baseball team treated the city and its fan base. He shared that while the group really didn’t know much about what they were getting into when they first started, they are very excited about the progress they have made, something that has come in part due to the support of the City of Oakland and the broader community.
After pizza and refreshments, more than 20 attendees made their way down the street to Raimondi Park to see the Ballers take on the Yuba-Sutter High Wheelers. Fittingly, the Ballers won the game 11-4, cementing their first-place position in the Pioneer League, just the latest example of how the team has been showcasing the resilience of Oakland and the East Bay region.
