At the beginning of the pandemic, the Black Cultural Zone took an empty acre of city land on Foothill Boulevard and transformed it into a community gathering place. Named Liberation Park, it hosted a meals program, a farmers market, small business expos, cultural events, and a lively roller-skating rink.
Some six years later, the land is set to become affordable housing, a food hall, and offices. Yes, the skating rink is coming back, too.
Hundreds of East Oakland community members and elected officials gathered Wednesday at the gravelly site to celebrate the groundbreaking of the housing development, called the Residences at Liberation Park…