Albany California

Memorial Park

On the eastern end of Albany, is the highly sought after neighborhood of Memorial Park, a hub of recreational activities. Neighborhood kids take swimming classes, play tennis, and participate in a variety of team sports including soccer and Little League baseball. With parents and siblings cheering from the sidelines, there's a strong sense of community here. New moms especially like the toddler parks where their young charges can play with others their age.

The homes of Memorial Park are small 2–3 bedroom houses built in the 1920s through the 1940s and include Craftsmen bungalows, Spanish and English style residences. Many are McGregor homes, characterized by large, distinctive, living room windows, interesting fireplaces, and split-level designs with bedrooms over the garage.

Local parent groups are actively involved in their children's education, ensuring that it meets the high standards of academic rigor and attention to diversity expected by Albany's multicultural and highly educated community. Residents are avid library users, checking out an average of ten items per person in 1995—a figure substantially higher than other cities. In 1994, the community voted overwhelmingly for a special assessment to pay for longer library hours.