Dimond Park Creek Daylighting Project, Oakland

Many rivers in urbanized areas in the United States have been culverted (put underground into tunnels) to protect property lines or make space for real estate. This is harmful to wildlife, creates problems with intensified stormwater surges and trash accumulation, and also removes a vital connection between people and their local sources of water. The Dimond Park Creek Daylighting Project in Oakland, California—which was completed in 2016 in partnership with the City of Oakland—served as a major pilot project to show the impact of creek daylighting on both community and ecosystem health in urban areas.

This project restored a stretch of Sausal Creek in the heart of Oakland—removing the culvert, recontouring the creek bed, and installing thousands of native plants along the banks. Once a barren open field, now a river flows through a major urban area—providing habitat for birds, fish, and insects, and a place for children and community members to collectively explore, discover, and enjoy.

More information about this project can be found here.