In the last few weeks, a colorful new sign popped up on a West Oakland corner inviting residents to visit the “Lower Bottoms Putting Green.” A few putters and a box of golf balls are hanging from a nearby oak tree.

The putting green has been in Raimondi Park at the corner of 18th and Campbell Streets since 2008, but when Robert Donald found it a few weeks ago, it was covered in weeds with the short path and much of the artificial green obscured. 

Donald, a visual artist who lived in San Francisco for 20 years, moved into the nearby Lampwork Lofts in June and was excited to find the putting green, despite its state of disrepair..

"There were weeds growing everywhere," he said.

The city spent $7.2 million improving the park about a decade ago, renovating the sports fields with new artificial turf, a baseball field, lights, a scoreboard, a public audio system and bleachers. It also added a garden, picnic area and the putting green.  

Then-Mayor Ron Dellums praised the plan ahead of a 2007 groundbreaking ceremony, noting that he grew up playing at Raimondi Park. 

But while the sports fields remain frequently used, much of the south end of the park has been covered in overgrown weeds and a few piles of mulch near the playground.

Not so for the area around the putting green; Donald spent about $120 buying putters and weed killer to spruce it up.

“It's been kind of a Tom Sawyer situation over there," he said, as others have stepped in to help out when they saw him working.

Now the weeds have been cleared, people have been stopping by to take advantage of it again. Donald has even been giving putting lessons.  

"I've lost a few putters, aside from that it's been a success,” he said. He got all the putters from a used sporting goods store on the cheap.

To keep it going, Donald along with City Slicker Farms, have been discussing adopting the section of park through the city’s Adopt-a-spot program. City Slicker is interested in putting planter boxes there as well. 

City Slicker Executive Director Rodney Spencer said he expects the request to be granted.

“The idea is to make the putting green a more welcoming, green space with edible and beneficial plants. I hope to have an agreement in place by the end of August,” he said via email.