Combine community centers, daycares, career services, educational programming, and free wifi in a single location.
- There are limited community spaces for programs and resources like Wi-Fi, technology hubs, child care and other services.
- For some residents, there is a need for basic computer literacy that is limiting update of workforce development programs and other efforts to get people into jobs. These kinds of basic trainings could happen in such a center.
- Residents need access to career training services and other educational programming.
- The University of Pittsburgh is interesting in finding locations where they can provide educational programming and other supports to Oakland residents and their students who live in the neighborhood.
- Existing spaces are often underinvested and struggle to meet increasing demands.
- The small number of City parks in the area are also in need of investments which could be connected to the provision of additional related services.
- Activities for both senior citizens and students.
- Potential locations: The Corner (West Oakland), Frazier Park/Fieldhouse (South Oakland), OPDC Building (Central Oakland), Community Human Services Building (Oakcliffe), Zulema Park Area (Central Oakland), and Herron Hill Pumping Station (North Oakland).
- City-owned facilities at Dan Marino Field and the Herron Hill Pumping Station should be prioritized for rehabilitation or replacement. This work could start with a parks master planning process led by DCP or could involve community discussions that lead directly to funding for DPW to undertake design and construction.
- Other options such as partnering with OPDC, The Corner, and Community Human Services should focus on improving and expanding their facilities and services.
- Consider expanding Rec 2 Tech, workforce training, and climate change related programming among other offerings in partnership with with various City departments, non-profits, and institutions.
- OPDC and the University of Pittsburgh have both shown interest in participating on programming and making other resources available in the centers.
- This project is linked to “Scale up child care services”.
When to start: 0-2 years
Duration: Ongoing
Estimated costs: $$$ (out of $$$$)
Project lead(s): DCP, DPW, City Council
Project partner(s): Citiparks, OPDC, PID, institutions, neighborhood associations
Potential funding source(s): City Trust Fund, City Capital Budget, institutions, grants