Oakland's Rotary clubs mark anniversary by giving back

Oakland Tribune, Feb 25, 2005 by FROM STAFF REPORTS

OAKLAND -- The city's five Rotary clubs celebrated the Rotary organization's 100th anniversary Wednesday by helping the effort to build a formal entry to the Lake Merritt boathouse.

Rotary donated $110,000 to a Measure DD project to build a stairway to the entrance of the Municipal Boathouse. The money will pay for the stairway, a plaza and new landscaping.

"The Municipal Boathouse was screaming for a formal entry," said Brad Howard, past district governor of Rotary District 5170. "Our project will enhance the entrance so there is better access to the public."

Oakland voters passed the $198 million bond Measure DD in 2002. It pays for several projects including historic building renovations, a 5.5-mile trail along the waterfront, reconfiguration of the streets around Lake Merritt to calm the traffic and enhance the parks, and improvement of the water quality in Lake Merritt.

While a stairway was already planned for the boathouse, the Rotary donated more money to the project to make it more beautiful, Howard said.

The project will be completed by spring 2006, he said.