Arroyo Viejo Recreation Center operates as a comprehensive community facility at 7701 Krause Avenue in Oakland, California, situated within one of the largest and most beautiful parks in the city. The center features a lively creek, extensive park grounds, and bilingual staff to serve the diverse Oakland community, functioning as an ADA Inclusion Center that accommodates visitors with disabilities.
The recreation center houses the Ricky Henderson Baseball Field and McConnell Softball Fields, providing professional-grade playing surfaces for organized leagues and community sports programming. These fields serve both youth and adult athletic activities throughout the year.
The newly renovated baseball field offers enhanced playing conditions and improved spectator areas, supporting both recreational and competitive baseball activities for the East Oakland community.
Outdoor basketball courts, including the Chris Mullin Basketball Courts, accommodate both casual recreational play and organized basketball programming. The courts provide space for pickup games, youth development programs, and community tournaments.
The courts are positioned within the park’s layout to allow for spectator viewing while maintaining safety for other park activities and programs.
A dedicated field accommodates both football and soccer activities, serving multiple sports needs within a single versatile playing surface. The field supports youth soccer leagues, football programs, and community recreational activities.
Field scheduling accommodates various age groups and skill levels, providing opportunities for both organized sports and casual recreational play.
The Discovery Center offers neighborhood youth hands-on science exploration through various educational activities. Programming includes gardening projects, science fair-type experiments, water-propelled rocket launches, and motorized gadget construction.
Additional Discovery Center activities feature bicycle repair workshops, clay and art projects, simple chemistry experiments, computer lab access, and woodworking projects including birdhouse construction. Educational and group word games supplement the hands-on learning experiences.
Science workshop areas, computer lab facilities, kitchen chemistry experiments, bike repair mechanics, and woodshop access operate during all facility hours. The program serves children ages 7 and older at no cost to participants.
Oakland Head Start operates within the facility, providing federally and state-funded early childhood education for children from birth to age five. The program offers free educational services and family support to low-income Oakland residents.
Arroyo Viejo Child Development Center delivers kindergarten readiness programming through developmentally, culturally, and linguistically appropriate curriculum. Instruction covers early literacy, mathematics, science, art, physical development, and social-emotional skills based on California Preschool Learning Foundations.
The Scraper Bike Team operates community bike clinics throughout the week, providing bicycle maintenance and customization services. Programming includes Thursday and Friday sessions from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m., and weekend youth programs with ride-outs on Saturdays and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Located behind the basketball courts, the bike team promotes youth entrepreneurship, healthy living, and creative self-expression through bicycle art and community engagement.
Adult Community Garden Plot Program provides residents with individual gardening spaces within the park’s community garden area. Plot rental supports urban agriculture and community food security while creating educational opportunities for sustainable living practices.
The community garden serves as both a recreational activity and practical resource for fresh food production within the urban Oakland environment.
The Social Hall provides large-scale event hosting capabilities for weddings, celebrations, and community gatherings. Meeting rooms accommodate smaller group activities, business meetings, and educational programming.
A Club Room offers intimate space for private events and organizational meetings. The industrial kitchen supports catering needs for events, with a commercial kitchen planned for future installation.
An innovative Recording Studio provides creative space for music production and audio projects, supporting artistic development and community cultural programming.
The Amphitheatre Area at the park entry accommodates outdoor performances, presentations, and large community events. Multiple park areas provide flexible outdoor event space for festivals, celebrations, and recreational gatherings.
Picnic areas throughout the park support family gatherings, birthday parties, and casual outdoor events. Courtyard spaces offer semi-private outdoor areas for medium-sized gatherings and celebrations.
Three separate children’s play areas serve different age groups and developmental needs throughout the park. Playground equipment accommodates toddlers through school-age children with age-appropriate play structures and safety features.
Recent improvements to playground areas include updated equipment and enhanced safety surfacing to provide secure play environments for visiting families.
Dedicated outdoor exercise equipment provides fitness opportunities for community members seeking structured workout options in an outdoor setting. The exercise center complements other recreational activities while promoting community health and wellness.
As an ADA Inclusion Center, Arroyo Viejo Recreation Center provides specialized accommodations and programming for visitors with disabilities. Staff training and facility design ensure accessible participation in all recreational and educational programming.
Accommodation requests can be submitted in advance to ensure appropriate support services and facility modifications for visitors with special needs.
Bilingual staff members provide Spanish-language services to accommodate Oakland’s diverse community. Language support includes program information, facility tours, rental assistance, and general customer service in both English and Spanish.
Facility and park space reservations can be made 30 days to 11 months in advance of requested dates. Events scheduled within two weeks to 30 days of the request date require additional service fees.
No reservation requests are accepted less than two weeks in advance, ensuring adequate preparation time for event setup and facility coordination.
Facility tours and rental information are available by calling (510) 615-5755 or emailing arroyoviejo7701@gmail.com. Rental rate information and application materials are available at the front desk during operating hours.
Downloadable rental forms provide detailed information about facility options, pricing structures, and reservation procedures for both indoor facility spaces and outdoor park areas.
Arroyo Viejo Recreation Center serves as a vital community resource in East Oakland, located adjacent to East Oakland Pride Elementary School and within walking distance of Markham Elementary School. The facility’s comprehensive programming addresses educational, recreational, and social needs while supporting community building and youth development throughout the diverse Oakland neighborhood.
