The Oakland Memorial Park “15 SECONDS” is a public space created to memorialize those who died in the 1989 Cypress Freeway collapse during the Loma Prieta earthquake. It is also a place to honor the survivors and the heroism of those who assisted in the rescue efforts. The memorial marks the physical and emotional union of the West Oakland community in the face of tragedy. The playfulness of the earth “waves” landforms creates a unique experience for children and adults, while providing a lesson in tectonics and sustainability. The rain gardens are used by the community to better understand the local native flora and fauna. The “Three Ladders” sculpture by Gilman & Keefer is symbolic of the ladders the community placed on the collapsed freeway in the rescue efforts.