All around Lake Merritt are lampposts with ornate bases and a string of shimmering lights. In the evening, these bulbs illuminate the concrete path that winds all 3.4 miles around the lagoon. The string of lights used to wrap around the whole lake, creating a beloved “Necklace of Lights” for the city’s “jewel.”
More recently, however, lakegoers are wandering into patches of darkness. In certain places, the lampposts appear to have been sawed off, and the string lights are missing large sections.
The Lake Merrit lampposts and accompanying string lights were first installed in 1925 and have become an iconic symbol for lake lovers. The recent vandalism and thefts are not entirely new—the lake has experienced similar problems in the past—but residents and lakegoers are taking notice.
As of April 3, 2024, 10 of the Lake Merritt light poles have gone down due to vandalism and as a result of falling trees. Additionally, according to city officials, 34 curb boxes—places where maintenance workers can access the light poles’ wiring—have been broken into and their contents ripped out. While the city is working to replace the lights, some residents worry about what their absence may mean for those who spend their time at the lake.
Lake Merritt’s Necklace of Lights
The first lights to brighten the lake were strung in June 1922. As part of a celebratory event put on by the Dons of Peralta, an organization representing several East Bay cities at the time, colorful lights were strung around the lagoon, and a fountain was placed in the middle of the lake. The lights were an instant hit, and community members asked for a permanent set of lights to be placed around the lake.
Construction of the permanent lights was completed three years later. On Aug. 27, 1925, Oakalnders gathered to watch the 126 lampposts connected by a string of 3,400 bulbs illuminate the area. Those lights stayed on for 16 consecutive years until Dec. 17, 1941, when World War II blackout conditions forced officials to shut them off, according to the city of Oakland.
The lake remained in darkness until April 1950, when the lampposts turned back on, but the lake’s famous necklace remained off. In the years following the lamps and string lights fell into disrepair. Several restoration attempts failed, even though they were placed on the list of Oakland’s Designated Landmarks on May 3, 1985.
However, in July 1987, with funding from the Lake Merritt Breakfast Club, a civic group, the lake’s lampposts were restored, and the necklace of lights finally turned back on.
It’s hard to maintain the lights, and similar problems affect infrastructure in other cities
Since their restoration, the lights have helped attract people to the park at night and early in the mornings, helped them navigate the trail, and feel safer. However, since being repaired in the 1980s, they have faced their fair share of troubles.
Ryan Lester is an avid Lake Merritt runner. Most days, he takes to the trail around the lake, and a couple of weeks ago, he saw something alarming. Several light poles appeared to have been sawed off their bases. He also noticed several electrical panels that appeared to have been broken into, and their metal wiring was ripped out.
“I don’t know why these are missing and there’s nothing posted around the lake,” Lester said. “It doesn’t seem like any new ones are going up. And that’s also what’s really concerning to me as a resident.”
Cities across the U.S. have noticed incidents of theft related to similar light installations, including copper wiring stolen from lampposts, internet cabling, and a slew of other electrical components. Recently, the Los Angeles City Council sought to put together a task force to address the growing number of copper wire thefts affecting their streetlight system.
Stolen copper wiring is often sold to recyclers who then sell the metal to commercial scrap dealers. In a 2008 assessment, the Federal Bureau of Investigations stated that “as the global supply of copper continues to tighten, the market for illicit copper will likely increase.”
Copper isn’t the only metal in lampposts around the U.S. that’s vulnerable to theft. Between March 29 and April 1, in Pasadena, local authorities found that 11 historic bronze streetlight poles had been stolen, most likely to salvage the bronze inside.
Oakland officials say they are working to repair the downed light poles as quickly as they can.
“Crews have been working on repairing the damage and getting the lights back on,” said Jean Walsh, a spokesperson for the city of Oakland.
The city plans to install temporary street poles while replacements are being fabricated by the vendor. Additionally, the remaining curb boxes are being reinforced to better guard against break-ins.
In the meantime, Iam, a Bay Area resident who was born and raised in Oakland and spends a lot of time at the lake, said that he feels the lack of light could pose safety issues for those who often hang out at the lake. He also sees the lack of lights as a potential disruption to the Lake Merritt community.
“This is an area where people kind of gather,” said Iam, “They cut the lights, and now it hurts other people. Now you have a dark spot.”
