HomeMy WebLinkAbout8.1 Camp Parks History Ctr Tour OF
82 AGENDA STATEMENT
HERITAGE AND CULTURAL ARTS COMMISSION
FoR MEETING DATE: March 12, 2009
SUBJECT: Camp Parks History Center Tour
Prepared by John Hartnett, Heritage & Cultural Arts Manager
ATTACHMENTS: 1) Map & Directions
2) Overview of Camp Parks
RECOMMENDATION: Conduct Tour
FINANCIAL STATEMENT: None
DESCRIPTION: The Heritage and Cultural Arts Commission will be given a tour of
the Camp Parks History Center by longtime volunteer and tour guide Tommie Simpson. The Camp Parks
military base has seen many transformations and uses by the United States Government over the past
several decades and the History Center displays include numerous photographs, military items, uniforms
and other collections representing the United States Army,Navy and Air Force.
RECOMMENDATION: Conduct Tour.
COPIES TO:
ITEM NO: 8.1
GAHERITAGE COMMISSION\AGENDA STMTS\2009\3-12-09 History Center Tour.doc
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Camp Parks was originally acquired by the U.S. Navy
during World War II, and was constructed during 1942-1944. It was
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comprised of three principal areas of improvement: Camp Parks, and
to the east, Camp Shoemaker and the U.S. Naval Hospital
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Shoemaker. Together, the Navy facilities were referred to as "Fleet
In 1942, the U.S. Government purchased 3,912.09 acres of
land by fee, 1.73 acres by three perpetual easements, 0.54 acres by
two permits, and one no-area easement for the Navy. After WWII, the
Secretary of the Navy disestablished Camp Parks, Camp Shoemaker,
and the U.S. Naval Hospital Shoemaker, and from 1946 to 1951, the
�J Navy leased the land to'the County of Alameda for use as a rehabil-
itation center. In 1947, the Santa Rita Jail became operational.
In 1951, the Navy reacquired control of most of the parcel,
I� with the exception of 900 acres leased by the County, and transferred
the property to the U.S. Air Force. Although construction of Air Force
_ facilities began in 1951, the official transfer of ownership occurred in
1953. The facility was renamed Parks Air Force Base and functioned
as a basic training center, overseas replacement depot, and air base
defense training area during the Korean War. In 1958, the Air Force
eXcessed the installation and it was transferred to the U.S. Army in
r) 1959.
From 1959 to 1973, the facility was under the jurisdiction of
the Sixth U.S. Army, and was operated on a standby status.
In 1964, Sixth Army declared the entire facility excess, but
was directed by Department of the Army to retain 1600 acres for
National Guard and Navy use. The remaining land was transferred
to the County of Alameda for use as a Job Corps training center. The
_ program taught academics and trade skills to underprivileged male
youths. One of the youths later became boxing heavyweight
champion of the world ... George Foreman.
A By 1973, the Sixth Army determined that Camp Parks was
needed as a mobilization and training center for Reserve Components
in the event of war or natural disaster.
r In Dec. 1980, the Army officially designated Camp Parks as a
r
semiactive installation, renamed it Parks Reserve Forces Training
Area, and declared it a subinstallation of Sixth U.S. Army, the
,�+ Presidio of San Francisco.
_
r� On Oct. 1, 1992, Parks RFTA became a subinstallation of HQ,
I CORPS AND FORT LEWIS, Fort Lewis, Wash. On Oct. 1, 1993,
- conuriand and control of Parks RFTA passed from U.S. Forces
Command to the U.S.Army Reserve Command in Atlanta, Ga.
On Oct. 1, 1994, Parks RFTA became a direct-reporting
installation of Fort McCoy, Wisconsin.
ATTACHMENT 2