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Cesar Chavez sits on the grass in San Antonio Park, Oakland. (4/2002, G. Weininger, from DeWitt Jones, Oakland Parks and Playgrounds, 1935): Originally called Independence Square when it was deeded to the city of Brooklyn in 1854, San Antonio Park was known as Independence Park at the time Brooklyn was annexed to Oakland in 1872. It is the oldest public grounds in Oakland. In the old days it was the site of bullfights, bull and bear fights, horse races and fiestas, and was also used as an execution grounds and as a signal site for announcing arrivals and departures of ships from Embarcadero San Antonio.