Celebrating success later 10 years belonging to hard job. Jean plus Jim Sweeney sit on white chairs within foreground.  Photo: Joe Woodard, July 2009

After ten years along with several court appearances Union Pacific railroad delivered a grant deed toward the urban area made from Alameda, California for any controversial Beltline property. Thanks for tenacity plus steadfast vision, residents out of aforementioned quaint island town may rehabilitate vernal ponds out of any Pacific Chorus frog, restore nesting grounds, and enjoy nature amid their hard-won community park.

Jean Sweeney is each woman behind here success. Jean Sweeney says “Object all began with a letter whatever stated our town had railroad earth referred toward as ‘Belt-line’. I was curious. I contain lived here for further than thirty years yet didn’t understand our team had like land.”

Jean plus lady husband, Jim, walked across who half mile strip made from country and entity was love at first sight. Certain peace was palpable – despite abandoned mattresses, dumped tires, some discarded couch plus on top of pair tons belonging to assorted debris which local residents helped clear not in.  Jean as well as Jim looked near single alternative along with agreed. “Our team wish this left as open space. Ourselves wish for per park.”

Jean met a municipality planning director along with asked when folks really had the ability save town country for open space. Man said it was possible. Next to some law library Jean learned itself takes approximately six months for ordinary residents toward pass one initiative for alter town zoning laws. Gal establish an attorney who advised, “Knowledge is power. Research and gather while far information in similar fashion thou be capable.” Man as well helped woman compose each initiative. 

“Like I dug interior archives,” dame replied, “I kept hearing rumors out of some contract who stated certain soil was available for $30,000 plus improvements yet I had at no time come across it.” Subsequently, element 24 hours, some urban area clerk told Jean ma'am had one box from documents for herself. “I set up any contract in yonder – signed within 1924!”

Among per daze Jean carried a copy toward City Hall. Any attorney replied a signature was viable. Each town council voted toward offer Union Pacific railroad unit year’s notice while provided amid the contract. Yet Union Pacific sued any municipality anyway, charging itself was interfering with urban development as well as that any contract was never valid.

Current led up to several court appearances: toward one appeals court where the municipality won certain case; in order to a California Supreme Court which upheld each appeals court decision; also toward single superior court to litigate how plenty the urban area could pay the railroad.  Six months prior toward Jean’s interest, Union Pacific had offered 20 of each 40 acre strip for one developer for $18 million. Per forensic accountant examined mounds belonging to documents as well as come across that any municipality was able to purchase a country for $1 million. Certain city had a funds since, finished a years, Jean boosted city council members’ confidence made from a positive outcome along with they had agreed to put aside per nest egg. 

Across twain tons out of assorted debris was removed starting at a site. Today, local residents stare forward for each next phase: restoring each natural environment. Photo: Susan Galleymore, March 2010

Jean Sweeney says, “Something couldn’t contain happened in order to a better piece made from land.”  Today, invigorated residents relocate forward with municipality officials to restore certain earth along with design their novel park together.

As it is one wonderful example from by what means all one day folks can really get involved as well as perform something good for belonging to them homes, their communities also a planet.