In 1871, his father, James J. Kenney, Sr., an Irish Australian immigrant, served for a year on the Board of Supervisors of the City and County of San Francisco, and was also a fire commissioner there from 1871 to 1875.

By 1880, Kenney's father moved to the East Bay, where he ran a saloon while his son attended school.

The Kenney store sold books, stationery and candy, and even operated a small lending library.

Kenney also succeeded in getting a retreat for Berkeley firemen established in the resort area of the Russian River.

After assisting with a hose, Kenney led a group of firefighters into the burning plant, but they were forced to retreat from the heat and smoke.

Firefighters from throughout the Bay Area marched through downtown Berkeley, and a funeral mass was held at St. Joseph's Church.

The park was by visited by local kids including baseball's Billy Martin, in what was for many decades a predominantly working class section of Berkeley.