plaque at Middle Harbor Shoreline Park

Chappell Roland Hayes (August 5, 1948 – January 24, 1994) was a community activist and environmentalist. He is probably best remembered for working to convince Caltrans to reroute the replacement for the Cypress Structure around West Oakland neighborhoods instead of through them.

Hayes met future 4-term Oakland city council member Nancy Nadel while attending San Francisco State. They married August 28, 1979, and had a daughter, Sele Nadel-Hayes.

Hayes unsuccessfully ran for city council in 1987.

A resident of West Oakland, he was one of the people in the neighborhood who helped rescue people on the fallen Cypress Structure immediately following the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake. In addition to helping force Caltrans to reroute the replacement freeway, Hayes also worked to force the Port of Oakland to spend millions on environmental initiatives to help reduce pollution in West Oakland.

Chappell Hayes died in 1994 of pancreatic cancer. The on-campus health clinic at McClymonds High School is named in his memory, as is the observation tower in the Middle Harbor Shoreline Park.

Chappell Roland Hayes
1948 - 1994 
A community activist and environmentalist, Chappell Hayes was the driving force behind the Clean Air Alternative Coalition, which successfully convinced Caltrans to re-route the new Cypress freeway away from West Oakland neighborhoods. Mr. Hayes developed programs for at-risk youth and helped to redefine environmental issues to include broader urban concerns such as poverty and racism. As an entrepreneur, community leader, member of many boards and commissions, and devoted community builder, Mr. Hayes raised the consciousness of West Oakland residents and neighbors, including the Port of Oakland, to work for clean air and environmental justice. 

"Chappell was an inspiration to so many in his life, one whose priorities were so appropriate and whose humanity was so manifest." 
  -- Congressman Ronald V. Dellums

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