Pollinator Pathway
Oakland
The Oakland Pollinator Pathway is connecting native plant habitats across parks, restored natural areas, and neighborhood gardens to support bees, butterflies, birds, and other wildlife. In Dimond Park, a 15,000-square-foot native plant demonstration garden showcases dozens of California native species, many indigenous to the Sausal Creek Watershed. Up- and down-stream from the demonstration garden, the restoration and daylighting of Sausal Creek has brought a once-buried section of the creek back to the surface and restored native riparian and adjacent upland habitat.
Public Gardens
Wellington Street Pool Plantings
These native plant garden areas, which are adjacent to the swimming pool, were established by the Friends of Sausal Creek in 2024-2025. The goal is to introduce California native plant gardens to a large cross section of Dimond Park users.
The collection of planted spaces has been increased several times, with further expansion currently in process. Project area is approximately 3,000 square feet.
The garden is maintained by volunteers with Friends of Sausal Creek and Friends of Dimond Park.
Sausal Creek Daylighting
The Sausal Creek daylighting project was installed in 2018 by the City of Oakland with support from various public agencies and the Friends of Sausal Creek. As background, in the 1930’s a section of Sausal Creek in Dimond Park was placed in a culvert and covered with fill soil. The additional recreation area gained by this came at the cost of high quality riparian habitat for a wide range of species.
The restoration project, which involved removing more than 250 feet of buried underground culverts, and bringing the creek back to the surface, demonstrates the value of urban habitat restoration in heavily used park land. It This beautiful riparian area is now populated by plants native to the Sausal Creek watershed, and birds, amphibians, and various other life forms. A local population of Rainbow Trout now thrives in custom-designed pools. The project area is approximately 1 acre.
The creek restoration project is maintained by volunteers with the Friends of Sausal Creek.
Dimond Park Native Plant Garden
This public garden was established by the Friends of Sausal Creek in 1997. The main goal was to enhance habitat value while increasing public interest in changing their home gardens to water conserving and ecosystem supporting native plants.
The garden has been expanded several times, most recently in 2025.
Over the years, the focus has shifted from plants native to the state of California to plants native to the Sausal Creek watershed.
The garden is maintained by volunteers with the Friends of Sausal Creek.
