On Saturday, tour Oakland's Historic Town Squares with the people who are honoring the place right now - through their 10,000 steps initiative!

The Oakland Heritage Alliance's walking tour is part of this community-driven parks awareness effort focusing on building stewardship for downtown Oakland’s historic squares. 10,000 Steps will result in a self-guided walking tour that will lead people to these four parks.

Here is the official description of the tour...

In 1853, town surveyor Julius Kellersberger mapped out Oakland using a grid. That early map included seven squares set aside for public use. This walk will explore four of those squares and see how they are used today and visit a gallery to view relevant historic maps, exhibits and materials.

Parks conservers Sue Mark and Bruce Douglas, from the nonprofit 10,000 Steps Oakland, will share future plans for these 19th century gems. Take a walk around Jefferson, Lafayette, Lincoln and Madison - the heart of the original Oakland settlement.

Refreshments graciously provided by Whole Foods Market, during this level walk through our city. As part of the Oakland Heritage Alliance's seasonal tours, they request donations of $15/head ($10/head for members) to benefit the Alliance. No registration is required beforehand.

More about the tour guides...

marksearch, an Oakland wife-husband team (Bruce Douglas + Sue Mark), has been creating community art projects since 2000. In their unique brand of interdisciplinary art, marksearch creates interactive projects inviting people to reflect upon their communities and increase their awareness of the natural environment within the urban fabric.

Their methodology synthesizes their varied backgrounds: Bruce Douglas, a Professional Mechanical Engineer, brings green-building skills, extensive knowledge of local creek and environmental issues and community-building activities; Sue Mark, with a BA in philosophy and linguistics and an MFA from the California College of the Arts, has created national and international community-based public art projects about local history and community collaboration since 1996.

Their ecologically and socially-based projects rely on daily life experience, weaving the needs and views of local agencies and the public with the specific qualities of local history, the built environment, and the ecosystem. Using kinetic vehicles, traveling signage, unconventional surveys, and official logos, they craft a conversational commons, pushing the boundaries of how community-based art can influence public policy.