On Saturday, April 9th, Bay Area residents will celebrate the grand opening of a new outdoor destination in the East Bay.

The Alameda Point Waterfront Park, located at the former Alameda Naval Air Base, will host a special performance arts festival featuring local dance and music, as well as food trucks and a free trolley service to drop guests off at the nearby Almanac Beer Co., which is a quick walk from the park.

The park is a concrete promenade along the water's edge with three tiers of landscaping and seating. The top section includes picnic spots, public art, grassy areas, and a synthetic turf lawn for classes and play. The tiered design is built with the understanding that climate change may raise the levels of the bay, so it is expected that the lower promenade may flood as the ocean rises.

Thanks to the work of Rhythmix Cultural Works, West End Arts District, and the support of City of Alameda, the Alameda Point Waterfront Park is the first of multiple phases that will build out the northern edge of Seaplane Lagoon and revitalize the Alameda Point Waterfront District. Future plans for the park include a 500-seat theater and arts center plus an ecological nature park.

“I was hypnotized by the area that felt frozen in space surrounding the former Alameda Naval Base. The architecture, the huge warehouses, and the empty space overlooking the San Francisco Bay, it was all magical and I knew it needed to come back to life,” says Tara Pilbrow, executive director of the West End Arts District. “It’s such a unique space and location. If we can place the arts at the center of its development, it has the potential to become an incredible creative hub. Opening the Alameda Point Waterfront Park with a day full of art and performance seems to be the perfect way to herald that future.”

Artists from Maze Daiko, 13th Floor, and Crosspulse Percussion Ensemble on site in the Alameda Point Waterfront District.(David DeSilva)

The Waterfront Park Launch Fest is free for all to attend and will include performances from AXIS Dance Company, the Oakland-based ensemble made up of disabled and non-disabled dancers; Crosspulse Percussion Ensemble (part international drill team and part polycultural rhythm section); Fog Beast; percussion group Maze Daiko; College of Alameda Dance; and several more.

After the event, attendees are encouraged to grab a pint and enjoy the sunshine at one of the outdoor patios along Alameda's Spirits Alley. The district is an eclectic cluster of craft breweries including Almanac, The Rake at Admiral Maltings, and Faction Brewing; artisan wineries Dashe Cellars, Urban Legend Winery, and Building 43 Winery; and distilleries Hangar 1 Vodka and St. George Spirits.

Learn more about a few of our favorite places to eat in Alameda and grab a drink along Spirits Alley.

// Waterfront Park Launch Fest is 1pm to 5pm Saturday, April 9th. Parking is limited, so guests are encouraged to bike or use public transportation if possible; 2151 Ferry Point (Alameda), westendartsdistrict.org.

Alameda Waterfront Park in the evening.(Maurice Ramirez Photography)