This Sunday from noon to 3 p.m., Alameda Open Space will host a potluck at the foot of Ninth Street to celebrate the city's ability to acquire the Alameda Belt Line property at a bargain-basement price. The organization's president, Jean Sweeney, whose tireless efforts led to the court victory allowing the city to buy the property, asks that guests bring food to share and their own chairs to the event.

The city's recent legal victory has its roots in a mayor's dream almost 100 years ago. According to Alameda Open Space the Belt Line Railroad started with Mayor Frank Otis's vision. Otis realized that a good transportation system was essential to the survival of the city's northern waterfront. Until the advent of the railroad scow schooners served businesses along the estuary by water and horse-drawn wagons delivered goods on land. Otis realized that a railroad would make a better delivery system.

When Otis learned that none of the railroads would step up to build the line, he turned to the city for a solution. The city council discussed the idea of floating a bond measure until City Manager Charles E. Hewes and City Attorney Judge A. F. St. Sure assured the council that they had an easier, more voter-friendly solution. The city could use $28,005 from the Alameda Bureau of Electricity.

The city hired A.J. Grier who, in one month, built a 1.2-mile-long rail line from Broadway and Pearl to Grand Street along Clement Avenue. Grier used second-hand equipment and a rented locomotive to build the railroad that the city christened the Alameda Municipal Railroad.

Some seven years later on Jan. 12, 1925, the Alameda Belt Line was incorporated to take over the municipal railroad; it acquired the property on Feb. 17, 1926. The Western Pacific Railroad and the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway jointly owned ABL. Later mergers led to Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway and Union Pacific Railroad ownership.

The ABL last operated in 1998 when its major shipper, the Del Monte warehouse, closed. The Union Pacific then operated over the line through trackage rights to serve one remaining shipper until late 2001. The final locomotive on the line was leased to the Central California Traction Company in Stockton.

When the city sold to the Alameda Belt Line, the parties agreed in writing that the city could buy back the beltline property and its extensions for the price the Belt Line paid in 1924 so long as the City gave one year's notice.

On Nov. 2, 1999, the city notified to Belt Line Railroad that it intended to repurchase the line. The Belt Line balked. On May 11, 2000, it brought a complaint, which the city challenged in court. The city told the court that it intended to turn the former rail yard into a public park.

On July 9, the city got word it had won the court battle, thanks to the provision in the original 1920s contract.

On Sunday Alameda Open Space invites the community to savor the victory.