Frank H. Ogawa Plaza

I appreciate spending time in Oscar Grant Plaza. It’s a unique open space in the heart of downtown Oakland where community truly comes alive. There’s an open grassy area where people walk their dogs, play music, and gather to connect. You’ll often see folks playing chess, singing, or engaging in deep conversations. It’s also a powerful place—just steps from the Black Panther museum—and it naturally draws community organizers, activists, and people who come to reflect and express themselves. 🐦 The pigeons gathering here add a quiet beauty 🎶 There’s often live music or spontaneous performance 🗣️ You’ll find space for both joy and deep thought That said, it’s not ideal for small children—people often smoke here, and sometimes folks play soccer or other ball games in ways that feel a little unsafe in such a shared space. I wish more people were mindful of how their actions impact others.

Frank H. Ogawa was a council member back in the days for many years. This plaza is named after him. I have walked through this plaza ever since the 60's. I was there Sunday for a rally and celebration of the Oakland High Wildcats young men's basketball team and the Oakland Tech Bulldogs young lady's basketball team. Congrats to the two Oakland teams, representing the city and state, as champions. I am aware that the City of Oakland have gotten plenty of negativity in the media, but this event was a positive one and enjoyed by the families and friends of this community and the schools.

I attended Oakland pride. I haven't been to a pride festival in at least 10 years due to travel and work obligations. I've decided to slow down a bit and enjoy life. I event was amazing.

Where all protests in Oakland gravitate towards. Its civil most times, always full of people, and a great big beautiful Quercus agrifola displayed as part of the city's namesake. A bust of Frank Ogawa sits on the north side of the plaza.

Once again we celebrated Good Friday Service at City Hall and it was wonderful and uplifting all nationalities were present. The rain didn't stop the people from coming. Bishop Bob Jackson did a great job in putting this event together. The ministers who attended brought forth the word and the praise team was awesome.

Oscar Grant Plaza - the birthplace of Occupy Oakland! Epic/Historic place! Come start the revolution here. All Power to the People.

I just attended "HandsOff" demonstrations to leave benefits for the public alone. Also, to collaborate and unify with the financial needs of the real world.

Beautiful atmosphere

This office is right in the middle of downtown Oakland, there's no parking near the office if so they don't tell you. My brother is 75 years old and disabled. We had a difficult time pushing him on his walker because he has 1 bad leg. It was a nightmare that day .

Frank H. Ogawa Plaza was named for it's namesake who served as a dedicated public servant in Oakland for 28 years. Ogawa was the longest serving councllperson in Oakland's history. he served on many bay area committees, commissions. this plaza is a popular staging venue for political rallies, protests, demostrations, festivals, cultural events, lunch dining (especially pigeons), & an occupy site amidst a mix of (sometimes) greens and concrete. it's 3 or 4 stars depending on whether the grass is greener elsewhere and/or you dislike/like whoever/whatever something/nothing is happening/not happening here.

Its the day after the presidential election. Some are protesting and others going about their day. Helicopters whirring above. Roads closed. Tons of police waiting at every freeway entrace. Motorcyle cops close all the main streets downtown, 5 or 6 cars on standby at every freeway entrance ready to jump into action if necessary. Police cars are well organized with white chalk numbers on the back windows. Be safe!!

I don't even know where to begin to write this review on Frank H Ogawa Plaza, except the plaza wasn't here when I was a young kid, growing up (20th & San Pablo) not too far from this area. San Pablo Avenue started at the corner of 14th & Broadway, going northerly to other cities (on one side) and between these streets that somewhat ran parallel to each other was a pie-shaped building which once had Tully's Coffee. In front of the Oakland City Hall was a street called Washington Street. Washington Street starts at 10th Street now, heading in a southerly direction to the waterfront of the Jack London Square Area. Okay, enough with some history of downtown Oakland and its surroundings. Working in the Elihu M Harris State Building back in the days, I always enjoy the brisk walk around the plaza during my lunch break in the summer. Occasionally I would bring a "brown bag" lunch to the plaza, so I can people watch and relax outdoors on one of their benches, or I would buy my lunch from one of the eateries nearby. In the past during the summer months, KBLX would do a free concert on Wednesdays. I remember one of the guests performing was Marvin Holmes (local talent - it's "Funky Mule Time" - one of his hits and a favorite with McClymonds High School pep squad). Surprisingly, he did not have his own album and he wanted to buy mine for $40. (Sorry, no can do, even though I paid $3.99 back in 1967-1968 at a record shop called Reid's Record. This was also the place to be when Senator Barack Obama came to visit City of Oakland on March 17, 2007. At the time he was vetting to become a candidate for President of the US. Yep, I was one of the lucky ones that got to shake his hand and take a picture of him from about five feet away. (It put a big smile on my face!) Another event that I attended was Earth Day at the plaza. Many vendors and various agencies were there to provide information on the environment and some even provided freebies. Each year there was a woman known as "Madame Ovary" who was such a great and wonderful storyteller, mesmerizing me with her witty, humorous and somewhat whimsical stories and/or tales. I found out she was a librarian prior to doing the part of Madame Ovary. For several years I have known as a precautionary not to walk in the plaza alone, especially during the holiday season after 5:15 PM, to head to the 12th Street BART Station and/or to the bus stop on 13th & Broadway. The area is not well lit during that time, and one can face the risk of being accosted and/or mugged. Fortunately, I was never mugged and/or had my purse snatched from me. It has been a while since I have been back to Frank H Ogawa Plaza (at least 7 years). Today, earlier this afternoon, my husband and I were there for an event that we just could not pass up - Berry Gordy Day. Mr. Gordy of Motown Records was "in the house", honored by many keynote speakers, which included Congresswoman Barbara Lee, Alameda County Supervisor Keith Carson, Mayor Jean Quan and a host of other representatives for Senator Loni Hancock, Assemblywoman Nancy Skinner and Assemblyman Rob Bonta. Included in this presentation were performers singing some of the Motown hits, which more of these hits will be performed at the Orpheum Theater in San Francisco - Motown Revue, the musical. A few years ago, and it was unfortunate, Frank H Ogawa Plaza was an eyesore when the grassy area became a dirt pile and it lost its beauty except for the big oak tree. I am glad to see the plaza back to its original form.

It seems silly to review a place like this, but I come here every time I take our dog to Oakland to meet my boyfriend. It's a large grassy field with a giant tree in the middle and plenty of benches around. There's too much traffic around to let my dog completely off-leash, but he enjoys the space. More than San Francisco, at least! I love looking at all the buildings and eateries around the plaza. Oakland is such a unique place. There's also a variety of people (and smells) that surround you. From working professionals to homeless people, everyone is full of energy. I wouldn't exactly have a picnic on the grass (though some people do) but it's a peaceful place to just hang out, grab a bite to eat nearby, or meet up with someone. Just don't mind the smells, and always watch your surroundings. Warning: It gets HOT and there's not too much shade except under the giant tree!

Kool place to give concerts ya diggg...lots of open space to chill..The acoustics are great mixed with the echo of city life as it happens...

There are so many people who are able to use this space to voice their particular dissatisfaction with the city and state-Frank Ogawa Plaza is walkable from anywhere in the downtown area and accesible to BART. That's all good and fine, unless you're the one who works downtown and must try to work over the relentless din of some fire and brimstone jerk yowling about hell, or semi trucks cruising the block honking their horns. I also could have also done without witnessing a murder from my office digs. The area gets pretty rough towards the end of the month when the local indigent population goes off their medication, and you don't have to walk very far without smelling the skunky odor of some of the local pot club fare. But that's not Frank Ogawa Plaza's fault- it's the fault of the leadership in City Hall, and the state of our nation as a whole. Jobs! Education! Leadership! We all need some of that. Now the grass has finally grown back from that smelly disaster that was Occupy Oakland, and I am mightily pleased. I love a good protest as much as the next person, but I'd prefer it without the raw sewage odor and the flagrant destruction of a nice public space. The Oakland oak tree is very nice.

Architecturally, it's on odd mix of styles - ramps and whatnot, although the overlooking buildins are very impressive. There's a few stores here, but nothing like the plaza across the road. I remember coming here during Occupy, and it shows how much the vibe of the place can vary (verus right now with all the rain). Not entirely a place that appeals to hang out - again the city center plaza wins here, but something that reflects Oakland a little.

This review and the five stars are for the gigantic oak tree that stands proudly in the plaza, silently watching the centuries pass as history unfolds itself around us all. This past month has seen riots and protests in the form of Occupy Wall Street and Oakland beneath its broad-stretching boughs. But the tree has also witnessed irony this past month. Nigh one hundred twenty years past, another protest took place beneath this very oak, in the very same plaza. The Panic of 1893 took hold of our nation in much the same manner as Occupy Wall Street - the values and concerns of the people then repeat themselves in today's fight against corporate America and government. Look it up. In 1893, Jack London stood upon a soapbox preaching the rights of laborers everywhere and the injustices of the wealthy and corporate conglomerations. He was arrested. They didn't have tear gas back then. Surely, the fight we embrace today has been echoed countless times throughout history, and our fair city is no different. The great oak still grows. It continues to watch and record. What will the next hundred twenty years bring us? Mayhaps the same protests all over again.

NARRATIVE I was so jonesin' to check my email before leaving the wired world. So I left the 12th Street Oakland BART Station and walked over the large Oak tree in Frank Ogawa plaza. Seateed on beautiful granite stairs I have all the wireless I could want. CONTACT INFORMATION Broadway/13th Streets Oakland, CA PRICE RANGE Free SUMMARY Lovely downtown park in front of City Hall that houses everything from afternoon lunch goers to NPR's Storycorps Griot trailer, busking violinists and dancers, capture the flag tournaments, and the Barack Obama rally. Oh, and FREE WIFI! SERVICE City staff keep the plaza beautiful. A nice rare find in the city. RESTROOMS I shouldn't suggest the greenery. SUGGESTION Continue to bring community events to this space. As the condos get filled with those grabbing their piece of Oakland, I am sure it will be used more, but for now it's a bustling green in the daytime and a little night-time oasis in the city. Keep Oakland beautiful!

I remember Frank Ogawa. I remember Oscar Grant. I remember Occupy Oakland. This place is heavy. I can acknowledge both names and the history behind this land. It is our city hall. Our city hall is built like a fort with a spike-filled fence and what looks like a moat. Everybody can tell that Jean Quan was not fit for the job as mayor of this town. The town deserves better. We can get better. Ogawa was a respectable man, Grant was a martyr. We have both.

Attended the Barack Obama Rally there and was impressed with the general feel and layout. Plus Frank Ogawa was an awesome public servant. Though I am a SF'er to the end this is a good sign for Downtown Oakland!

Accomodations were adequate and comfrotable, but the staff was very rude.

If this is supposed to be the Oakland City Hall plaza... then I'm far from being impressed. Due in part from being a Marketing minor, I have a stingy motto of listening and having an ear for the public! And what this should be more of is a casual hangout, not some classy, stylish-looking area with suits. I know, I know - I haven't lost sight of what context I'm speaking of.. but please, the places to buy food at are too upscale and there isn't any other atmosphere here. Like what Rob M said of the homeless people urinating there... ugh!!

What's in a name? Oscar Grant Plaza on Ohlone Land used to be called Frank Ogawa Plaza, but was renamed to acknowledge the fact that this is a double (triple, quadruple) occupation: the US occupation of Native American land, the corporate annexation of the US, etc. Oscar Grant, if you didn't know, was an unarmed 23 year old African American man who was brutally murdered by BART police. However, his murder was filmed, bringing intense media scrutiny. To name the heart of the Oakland Occupation after him sends the message that we, the people, have made it our business to hold the agents of injustice (hopeful even the internal ones!!) accountable. I recently heard that Frank Ogawa was imprisoned in a concentration camp along with many other Japanese American citizens during WWII, so changing the name packs less of a wallop than if it had been called Thomas Jefferson Plaza, but still feels important and symbolic. I'm giving this plaza 4 rather than a full 5 stars due to the police presence. Riot police that don't respect there own rules of engagement can be such a turn off! I marked this plaza "kid friendly" but I would recommend taking your tots home when the blue meanies start massing. When I found this plaza, I had been looking for some time for a temporary autonomous zone in the bay area. If you are seeking ontological anarchy, this is the spot. A locus of popular protest against corporate greed, a miasma of radical ideas thicker than sage smoke flows through OGP. Accommodations are spartan, but you don't have to camp - OGP is great for a day trip. I recommend taking a tour from Cassie Thornton, participating in the consensus based decision making of the GA, taking in a dance party and especially the radical poetry open mic on Sundays. I haven't been down there much since the general strike, but I intend to make it my business to go back and get involved! Maybe I'll see you there.

It's kind of sad actually. An example of what happens when you pedestrainize an area that doesn't really have a natural draw to it. There's nothing there but city offices so on weekdays, during lunch, the plaza appears used and active. But during working hours and then after hours and on the weekends you find yourself alone; or you and the two homeless guys laying in their own pools or urine are alone. Given the situation they would have been better off allowing vehicles to go through, at least that would bring in the opportunity for more circulation and traffic and maybe some commerce that didn't shut down at 2pm on a weekday. The bust of Frank Ogawa (a prominent businessperson/civic leader in Oakland's history) is nice and contains some info but it is diminutive in the square named for him. The other two pieces of public art are more grandiose and yet miss the mark, particularly the "rusty erection" (a friend coined that one) which marks a sad ending to the plaza.