How you can support the restoration of the Cleveland Cascade

Many ways to support the Cascade

Thanks for your interest in the Cleveland Cascade!

We’d love to have your support — while we work to restore the Cleveland Cascade — in whatever form that might take, even if that consists solely of keeping up with our progress and wishing us well. We hope you’ll find on this page some avenue that is appropriate for you and appeals to you.

Funding the final stage

Many folks have asked us whether they can contribute to the cause. Thanks! The answer is “Yes!”

Friends of the Cleveland Cascade is fortunate to have Friends of Oakland Parks and Recreation as our Fiscal Agent. This allows Friends of the Cleveland Cascade to accept tax-deductible donations for our work revitalizing the Cascade.

Please make your check out to Friends of Oakland Parks and Recreation, noting “Cleveland Cascade” on the memo line. Then please mail the check to

Friends of Oakland Parks & Recreation
PO Box 13267
Oakland, CA 94661

We will soon be launching a major capital campaign to fund the most-exciting phase of the project: restoring the Cleveland Cascade to its fully acquified beauty and operation.

If you are a philanthropically inclined individual or organization or a public-spirited company, and if the restoration of the Cleveland Cascade is a project that might align with your interests, values, and goals, please email. There are exciting opportunities for you to have a major, long-lasting impact on Oakland and its residents and visitors and for you to receive the recognition you deserve.

Volunteer to work

We’ve already accomplished a lot by excavating the Cascade’s basins. But, don’t worry, there will be plenty more fun to be had.

If you like to get your hands dirty, we always have work to do on site: planting, sweeping, pruning, and the like. Or, you might want to help us with outreach, fundraising, or historical research. Whatever your pleasure, we’d be thrilled to have you on our team.

If you’d like to help out, please let us know. We’ll add you to our low-volume email list to keep you informed about our work parties. Please email us. Also, please check the site for up-to-the-minute information about our next activities.

Share your knowledge

We are still in a stage of active learning about the history of the Cleveland Cascade. There is much we don’t know and that we’d love to know more about.

If you have memories of earlier periods of the Cascade’s life, any hints on where we might find the original plans, additional information about Howard Gilkey or previous efforts to restore the Cascade, or anything else related to the Cleveland Cascade, we’d be excited and appreciative to hear from you. Please email us.