Mayor Barbara Lee and CEO Kymberly Miller announced on Monday that Children’s Fairyland – the country’s first theme park designed for small children – has secured a $5 million allocation from the state of California to close out phase one of its capital investment in the park, designed to facilitate the initial stages of restoration and revitalization. Investment at this level reflects the commitment of Governor Newsom, Oakland’s representatives in Sacramento, and city leaders to fortify institutions that shape childhood, build community, and strengthen civic fabric.
“For 75 years, Fairyland has given Oakland’s children a place to imagine what’s possible. I still remember bringing my sons here, and today we’re making sure the next generation gets that same magic. This $5 million is a proud victory for Oakland because every dollar we put into community spaces comes back to us in the children they raise,” said Mayor Barbara Lee.
Children’s Fairyland has been a vital part of Oakland’s culture since its opening in 1950. It is a place where generations of children, families, and lifelong fans have made their earliest memories. As the park that pioneered children’s entertainment in this country, Fairyland forever changed the landscape of “family fun” as it is known today. Children’s Fairyland is ten acres of green space on the shores of Lake Merritt, designed for outdoor play and low-tech, high-touch hands-on learning. It is a rare and increasingly precious resource for children. The $5 million in
state funding is an important milestone on the journey toward securing a sustainable future for Fairyland’s next 75 years, so that it continues to be a vital nurturing space where children play, grow, imagine, create, and learn.
A strategic win for sustainability
The $5 million allocation will fund numerous initiatives within Fairyland’s strategic capital investment plan, including essential infrastructure and facility upgrades — work that Fairyland CEO Kymberly Miller describes as foundational, rather than final. “This funding is a launchpad, not a landing place. We have much more work to do to create the Fairyland of tomorrow. We’re deeply grateful to Governor Newsom, Mayor Lee, and our State of California partners for recognizing what Fairyland means to this community, to Oakland, and to the entire Bay Area. We are laying the groundwork for Fairyland’s financial sustainability so we can continue to be a safe and inclusive environment for playing and learning, where children build critical literacy skills and grow both socially and emotionally.”
A vote of confidence. A powerful partnership.
The state funding is a commitment to ensure the 76-year-old iconic and beloved Oakland destination remains a safe, vibrant, and accessible oasis for generations to come. It also signals a broader shift underway at Fairyland. As an organization upheld and supported by its community, admissions, memberships, and the generosity of donors of all kinds, Children’s Fairyland is now adding the kind of institutional support it needs to fuel the next phase of its
modernization. “This funding is an important milestone in Fairyland’s ongoing efforts to secure its future. We could not be more grateful for our partnerships with local and state leaders, for their vote of confidence in Fairyland’s future, and for the acknowledgement of its vital role in the lives of Bay Area families,” said Jana Pastena, President of the Children’s Fairyland Board of Directors.