Celebrating success after 10 years of hard work. Jean and Jim Sweeney sit on white chairs in foreground.  Photo: Joe Woodard, July 2009

After ten years and several court appearances Union Pacific railroad delivered a grant deed to the city of Alameda, California for the controversial Beltline property. Thanks to tenacity and steadfast vision, residents of this quaint island town can rehabilitate vernal ponds of the Pacific Chorus frog, restore nesting grounds, and enjoy nature in their hard-won community park.

Jean Sweeney is the woman behind this success. Jean Sweeney says “It all began with a letter that stated our town had railroad land referred to as ‘Belt-line’. I was curious. I have lived here for more than thirty years yet didn’t know we had such land.”

Jean and her husband, Jim, walked over that half mile strip of land and it was love at first sight. The peace was palpable – despite abandoned mattresses, dumped tires, a discarded couch and over two tons of assorted debris which local residents helped clear out.  Jean and Jim looked at one another and agreed. “We want this left as open space. We want a park.”

Jean met the city planning director and asked if people really could save city land for open space. He said it was possible. At a law library Jean learned it takes about six months for ordinary residents to pass an initiative to change city zoning laws. She found an attorney who advised, “Knowledge is power. Research and gather as much information as you can.” He also helped her write the initiative. 

“As I dug into archives,” she said, “I kept hearing rumors of a contract that stated the land was available for $30,000 plus improvements but I had never found it.” Then, one day, a city clerk told Jean she had a box of documents for her. “I found the contract in there – signed in 1924!”

In a daze Jean carried a copy to City Hall. The attorney said the signature was viable. The city council voted to give Union Pacific railroad one year’s notice as provided in the contract. But Union Pacific sued the city anyway, charging it was interfering with urban development and that the contract was not valid.

This led to several court appearances: to an appeals court where the city won the case; to the California Supreme Court that upheld the appeals court decision; and to a superior court to litigate how much the city would pay the railroad.  Six months prior to Jean’s interest, Union Pacific had offered 20 of the 40 acre strip to a developer for $18 million. A forensic accountant examined mounds of documents and found that the city could purchase the land for $1 million. The city had the funds since, over the years, Jean boosted city council members’ confidence of a positive outcome and they had agreed to put aside a nest egg. 

Over two tons of assorted debris was removed from the site. Today, local residents look forward to the next phase: restoring the natural environment. Photo: Susan Galleymore, March 2010

Jean Sweeney says, “It couldn’t have happened to a better piece of land.”  Today, invigorated residents move forward with city officials to restore the land and design their new park together.

It’s a great example of how every day people can really get involved and do something good for their homes, their communities and the planet.