The cascade -- built in 1923 -- was one of Oakland's wonders -- large cement saucers were placed down a steep hillside from the end of Cleveland Avenue at Merritt Avenue to Lakeshore.

Water tumbled from saucer to saucer, cascading in an undulating stream down the hill.

It must have been amazing, said Barbara Newcombe, one of the organizers.

She said she discovered a faded photograph of the cascade when it opened in 1923. "That's the same year I was born, so I was interested," she said.

It was designed by noted landscape architect Howard Kilkey, who studied under Lu- original cascades," she said, pointing to volunteers with shovels digging away.

The strip of land on both sides of what was the cascade remains one of Oakland's almost unknown city parks. On each side, more than 100 steps descend the hillside toward Lake Merritt in flights of 20 or so.

At each stage, there are park benches nestled under towering redwoods. Each bench has a sweeping view of the lake and the Oakland skyline, now somewhat obscured by trees and bushes.

In the middle, the foundations that once held the series of saucers are buried under several layers of dirt, overgrown with rosemary bushes and chapparel.

Near the top, volunteers David Ordal, Brian Roberts and Jim Ratliff chopped away at bushes, digging down to the original footings.

Ratliff, who is a member of the Oakland Heritage Alliance, said he understands the cascade was lighted at night.

Naomi Schiff, president of the Heritage Alliance, said the Cleveland Cascade is mentioned as a possible project to be funded by Measure DD bond funds, passed by Oakland voters in 2002. "But it's unclear what finally was included," she said.

"It's kind of funny, the city let it go. Maybe it was because there was a drought and they turned off the water," Schiff said.

It's another one of Oakland's treasures, she said. It's not even hidden; it's in plain sight.

Newcombe, who like most of the volunteers lives nearby, said she had visited the spot many times, often reading a book on one of the benches.

The idea of restoring the cascade came out of an anti-crime committee, sponsored by the Oakland police. "About 10 of us who attended believed that one way of fighting crime was to make things around us beautiful," she said.

"But now this has taken on a life of its own -- and once I started researching it, I knew this was going to be a great project," Newcombe said.

There's a groundswell of support for the project, City Councilmember Nancy Nadel (West Oakland-Lake Merritt) showed up with fresh strawberries. The Lake Merritt Bakery donated donuts.

For more information or to volunteer call: 763-4406 ore-mail Newcombe at bnewcombe@igc.org.

Contact William Brand at bbrand@angnewspapers.com.

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