Earth Day Tree Planting

On April 18, 2026, the City of Oakland, the California Climate Action Corps, and California Volunteers partnered with Friends of Lincoln Square Park and community partners to host a joyful inter-generational day of tree planting, litter cleanup, and “rock planting” at Lincoln Square Park.

Community building activities are an important part of keeping our park community connected and our park looking good. By strengthening neighborhood networks and promoting community stewardship and volunteerism, we can build a more resilient Oakland Chinatown.

A cooler, greener, and cleaner neighborhood

Approximately 70 volunteers came out to help, including Friends of Lincoln Square Park, members of the APEN Climate Resilience Action Team, the Asian Health Services Patient Leadership Council, Oakland Girl Scouts, and individual volunteers from Oakland Chinatown and other cities. For most volunteers, this was the first time they got their hands into the soil in Oakland Chinatown!

The tree and shrub planting focused on the Alice Street cooridor at the park which will remain as-is throughout the upcoming construction of the new center. For many years, this area has had empty planting and vegetation areas that have been prone to weed growth and collecting litter.

In addition to picking up trash, weeding and planting, volunteers completed and “planted” colorful mosaic rocks made by Lincoln youth and APEN members. The rocks add whimsy and color to previously neglected planting beds.

Other recent updates in this busy alleyway include a new soccer pitch, and mosaic rocks made by Lincoln youth.

We’re so grateful for all the helping hands that made this event so successful. California Climate Action Corps Fellow Allison Sibrian helped coordinate the event and served as a liason between the City and the Community. Common Vision, an Oakland based education, food, and the environment nonprofit, supported the event with planning and supplies. Friends of Lincoln Square Park volunteers brought morning snacks, music and equipment. APEN and AHS provided translation support for multiple languages.

As an outcome of this event, Friends of Lincoln Square Park developed a Park Cleanup and Planting Coordination Playbook to support future events at the park.

Project Update

Greening our park and neighborhood is not a one-and-done event. At our May Lincoln Summer Nights, Common Vision returned to the park and worked with a dozen youth volunteers to water our new plantings and add additional vegetation.