In 1987, the Shafer Building on the corner of B and Mission caught fire and burned, leaving a gaping hole in the ground where the basement had been. For over ten years, the property remained vacant, fenced off and untended. The City, the Chamber of Commerce and the owners of the property had had many discussions about what could be done with the property, but no consensus was reached.

Manual Newman, a well known and well liked Hayward businessman and property owner, left a substantial sum of money to the City of Hayward, stipulating that it be used to build a park.

At about the same time, the City was successful in acquiring the property, a gaping hole filled with garbage and a tangle of weeds.

Kathy Streeter, the incoming Rotary president and advocate of downtown revitalization, had long envisioned a community park on the Shafer site.

A partnership between Rotary, the City of Hayward, and the Hayward community, along with Manny Newman's gift made the park a reality.

Now Newman Park is a welcome addition to the heart of downtown Hayward; a popular spot to take a brown-bag lunch, to meet friends, or just to enjoy a moment of serenity and contemplation.