City of Oakland California

666 Bellevue Avenue

Lakeside Park Garden Center (Marsha J. Corprew Memorial) at Lake Merritt was founded in the 1950’s serving as a cultural and educational center through the efforts of Oakland East Bay Garden Center Inc. and the City.  The Lakeside Park Garden Center is centrally situated inside Lakeside Park across from Lake Merritt, Lake Merritt Sailboat House and Children’s Fairyland. It is conveniently located to highway and public transportation accessibility and plenty of parking and off-street parking. Today, this extraordinary oasis serves the community hosting various garden shows, public and private events and numerous volunteer activities and services.

Guest of the Lakeside Park Garden Center and Lakeside Park will experience grassy knolls, a small beach area of the lake, a magnificent columned, marbled bandstand and numerous sites for outdoor inspiration.
Linen rental services are available at a nominal charge. Lakeside Park has a daily entrance fee, Monday through Sunday.

The Lakeside Park Garden Center is one of the city’s most inviting and versatile rental facilities, which houses three individual rooms and two separate full service kitchens. 

Upon entry, the grand foyer is a segway to the Vista Room, Ebell Room and Garden Room. 

The Vista Room complete with a raised platform, upright piano, sound system and ceiling to floor glass windows has a gorgeous view of the pebbled patio outdoor area, which leads to the exquisite Gardens of Lake Merritt. 

The Ebell Room unique by design, has high vaulted ceilings with beam lighting, a performance stage and its very own view of an interior garden and a lovely view of the Lawn Bowling Green.

The Garden Room intimate and tranquil features glass walls that add rays of natural light allowing an up close view of the Japanese Garden and Koi pond.  The sliding glass doors
provide direct access to the gorgeous Japanese garden with a Japanese style house seating area.   

The Firescape Garden is nestled in the seven-acre collection of themed Gardens of Lake Merritt.  This charming outdoor paved area is within walking distance of the Lakeside Park Garden Center and Lake Merritt Sailboat House is most desirable to host wedding ceremonies and private receptions. It will leave a memorable impression with guest the moment of arrival. 
 

Below are the downloadable floor plans and sample setups for users to save and print. Allowing the user to preview the entire facility and aid in planning an event.

• Layout - provides a general overview of the facility.
• Sample Setup - provides sample layouts of the room/facility.
  • Ebell Room
  • Vista Room
• Setup Sheet - is a printable form for users to print out, fill in, and return to Parks and Recreation when they want to rent a facility.
  • Ebell Room
  • Vista Room

You  may hire a caterer from the Non-Exclusive Approved Catering List or choose the non-catered option. If you choose the non-catered option, you must comply with the Caterers Opt-Out Regulations and Expectations and pay the additional Caterers Opt-Out fee.

• Blue Heron**
• Culinary Excellence**
• Dorsey’s Locker Catering
• LaBonne Cuisine**
• Magique Events**
• Market Hall Caterers**
• Miraglia**
• Royal Raspberry **
• Savoy Event **
• Scott’s Seafood**
• Swanky Catering*
• Venga Paella Catering
• Emerald Catering
• Trumpet Vine Events
• Small Thyme Catering
   

Please contact any of these caterers as you prepare for your exciting event.
Download the Approved Caterer’s Information List

Rental Information Packets and Application

• Download a Rental Application
• Download the Rental Fee Packet 
• Download the Guideline Packet
• Download the OPD Special Event Form
• Download the Youth Event Guideline Packet
• Download the Chaoerone Agreement Form
• Download the Photo Release Form
• Download the Authorization for Credit Card Payment

Parking inside Lakeside Park on Bellevue Avenue is $2.00 for two hours (or $10 for all day parking) during weekdays and $5 all day parking on the weekend and holidays. The parking operating hours are from 7:30am until dusk.