Liberation Park Project Takes Shape in East Oakland: A New Hub for Community Empowerment

East Oakland’s future came into sharper focus as Congresswoman Barbara Lee unveiled the rendered design for the Liberation Park Market Hall and Communal Courtyard, a central piece of the larger Liberation Park redevelopment led by the Black Cultural Zone Community Development Corporation. Designed by AE3 Partners, this phase of the project brings to life a long-held community vision: a vibrant, inclusive space where culture, commerce, and connection thrive.

In a video presentation shared with the community, Congresswoman Lee introduced the design, which features adynamic open-air Market Hall surrounded by a landscaped communal courtyard. The Market Hall will serve as a home for Black-owned food vendors, artisans, and small businesses, offering space for entrepreneurship and economic opportunity.The adjacent courtyard provides flexible open space for performances, festivals, pop-up markets, and everyday gatherings, creating a welcoming publicheart for the neighborhood.

“This is more than a building, it’s a statement of self-determination,” said Congresswoman Lee. “The Market Halland courtyard will be spaces where our stories are celebrated, our businesses are supported, and our families can come together in pride.”

The Market Hall design draws inspiration from African and African-American traditions of open markets, lively environments where commerce and culture are deeply intertwined. The architecture emphasizes natural light, airflow, and adaptable vendor spaces under protective canopy structures. The communal courtyard is designed with shaded seating, native plantings, and public art that reflects the cultural heritage of East Oakland.

AE3 Partners led a collaborative design process rooted in community input and cultural storytelling. From concept to detailing, every element of the Market Hall and courtyard was developed to reflect the values, history, and aspirations of the surrounding community. The result is a space that is both beautiful and functional, able to host large-scale events or provide a quiet corner for everyday connection.

The Liberation Park Market Hall and courtyard will serve as a key anchor in the transformation of a long-vacant site into a community-driven cultural and economic hub. As the broader Liberation Park project continues to unfold, this phase sets a powerful tone, onethat centers local voices, celebrates Black excellence, and reimagines public space as a platform for collective uplift.