Live Oak Park
BERKELEY HISTORY
LIVE OAK PARK
1914
Live Oak Park was created in 1914 when the
City of Berkeley purchased four acres from
landowners R. S. Penniman and Michael
O’Toole. Mr. Penniman’s brown shingle house
served as the park clubhouse and also, from
1916-1936, as Berkeley's North Branch
Library. The Walnut Street bridge over
Codornices Creek was constructed in 1915 and
an aviaria featuring "a nice assortment of rare
birds" was added a few years later. Also built
at about this time, the tennis courts and the
park’s large outdoor stone fireplace became
important features of community life. For
generations, the fireplace has been a gathering
spot for Boy Scout meetings and family picnics.
After the clubhouse was destroyed by fire in
1951, architect Robert Ratcliff designed a new
recreation center. The huge wisteria by the
children’s play yard is a remnant from the
Penniman garden.
Berkeley Historical Plaque Project
2000