Garber Park Entrance

John Garber Park is located just above the Claremont Hotel. It is a 13-acre park in the City of Oakland with a ¾ mile trail that loops through it. The park is named after Judge John Garber, a renowned attorney and jurist in the Bay Area in the mid-1800s. He built a mansion on the land currently occupied by the Claremont Hotel and sold the 13-acre plot that was the mansion's backyard to the City of Berkeley at half-price under the condition that it be turned into a park. The City of Berkeley sold it to the City of Oakland, but it soon fell into disuse and disrepair. Today, the Garber Park Stewards continue to maintain John Garber Park. In conjunction with the Golden Hour Restoration group, these stewards work to restore the park’s natural resources and educate the public about the preserve. Visitors to the park can learn more about it by reading this useful park guide. Temescal Creek flows through the park and supports numerous native tree species typical to the area, including Big Leaf Maple and California Buckeye.