Name/Title
Chochenyo Park Tokens, 2021Entry/Object ID
2021.78.1Description
Acc. No. 21.78.1 A, B
Subject Category: City of Alameda; Parks and Recreation; Jackson Park - Chochenyo Park; Diversity
Date or Period: 2021
Object: token
Description: two circular wood tokens, appears to be balsa or similarly light weight wood, stamped on one side with the image of a tree, with above it 'Chochenyo Park', below it, 'Alameda - California'.
Size: Diameter: 1 1/2”
History of Object: Souvenir tokens handed out by the City Recreation and Parks, during the ceremony of unveiling the new sign for the park in the center of Park Avenue. The sign is fronting Encinal Ave. Both Park Street and Park Avenue are named after the park. It was the first planned public space, following the plan by the developer of the tract. The park was originally commonly referred to as Alameda Park, or the City Park, possibly to differentiate between early privately owned parks such as Schutzen's Park, or Fassking's Garden, but in 1902 it was renamed as Jackson Park, following the naming of the other then acquired public parks (Lincoln, Washington, Franklin). As Jackson was a slave-owner, and instrumental in forcibly relocating, at great human cost, Native Americans, a group of local residents felt it was inappropriate to have a park honoring a man who now is viewed in a negative light for this reason, and who had otherwise no connection to Alameda. The name Chochenyo Park was chosen by activist Rasheed Shabazz, to honor the original Ohlone inhabitants of the region, and the City approved this suggestion.
Acquired by: Valerie Turpen
Catalog Date: 8/6/2021