Splash Pad Newsletter for May 28, 2009 Walter Hood Honored with a National Design Award We're publishing this special, EXTRA edition of the Splash Pad News in order to share an exciting announcement. Walter Hood, the Landscape Architect, who designed Splash Pad Park has been selected by the Smithsonian's Cooper-Hewitt Museum as the 2009 winner of their National Design Award for Landscape Design. The Cooper-Hewitt web page, profiling Walter, prominently includes an aerial photo of Splash Pad taken just after it opened in 2003. While we congratulate Walter for this well-deserved honor and bask in some of the reflected glow, we also have to note that the park doesn't look nearly as pristine as it did when that photo was taken 5-1/2 years-ago. To a very large extent, this is a consequence of the success of the park and the Farmers Market it hosts. In addition, the park maintenance staff has been constantly short-staffed (more about that later) and the volunteers that used to pitch in to help have gotten older and/or moved on to other projects. Whatever the cause, we're more than a bit concerned since a film crew from the Cooper-Hewitt will be in Oakland on Saturday shooting a video that will be shown at the gala National Design Awards ceremony and as part of the Design Awards exhibit at the museum. There's also a possibility that it will be shown on the Smithsonian Channel. In a very real sense, I feel just like most of us do when company is expected and your house is a mess. You do what you can to make it look more presentable. Accordingly, the Splash Pad Advisory Group is sponsoring an emergency volunteer effort tomorrow evening (Thursday, May 28) from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. If only a tiny fraction of those on this email list show up for an hour or so to honor Walter and show your appreciation for the park and the Farmers Market, we can make a huge difference. On the to-do list: weeding of the plant beds and decomposed granite walkways; raking gravel; sweeping sidewalks; removing litter; varnishing benches. We have plenty of work gloves and quite a few tools, but would welcome more--particularly, push brooms, hula hoes and other weeding equipment. We'll provide beverages and, if time permits, some food as well. If you're planning on joining us, an email would be much appreciated. If the response warrants it, we'll round up additional tools. Also, as an aside, any of the neighborhood's many musicians are welcome to bring their axes (for the uninitiated, that's slang for an instrument) to provide some background music--preferably up tempo. Grand Lake Merchant News With today's "EXTRA", we're welcoming 13 new subscribers upping our mailing list to 550+. Typically, each newsletter generates one or two or sometimes three new readers. This response was unprecedented and I have a pretty good idea what happened. My supposition: lots of you forwarded the May 13 edition to friends and family saying, "You won't believe what's coming to the neighborhood--"Lanesplitter" and "Pizzaiolo". Last time I checked Lanesplitter was still finishing up some interior work but they are open. I felt a bit daring and ordered what I think they called the "Cardio" which featured bacon and other "no-no's" for people in my age bracket. Next time, I'll make amends and order one of the Veggie options. Thus far, no word on a date for Pizzaiolo, but will keep you posted. Lakeshore Receives $1.2 in Grant Funds If you saw Pat Kernighan's E-News dated May 7, you're already aware that the Alameda County Transportation Improvement Authority (ACTIA) has approved a grant for transit, traffic and pedestrian-safety improvements on Lakeshore at the freeway off ramp; on Lakeshore at MacArthur and on Lake Park from Busy Body up to the Kwik Way entrance. With matching funds from other sources, total available for this project is about $1.2 million. The Lake Park section provides for widening the sidewalk by about 6 feet to provide better access for San Francisco bound buses. If additional landscaping and street furniture are incorporated, it will help create a far more inviting link between Grand and Lakeshore. This was actually, one of the primary elements in what Walter Hood described as Phase Two of the Splash Pad Park Project. Congratulations to the engineers in Oakland's traffic department who put together and lobbied very effectively for this funding. The initial efforts, however, came from Jerry Cauthen's Grand Lake Traffic Calming Committee which worked with Pat Kernighan and her staff for several years to hone a working proposal that was then vetted by members of the surrounding community. Although the funding has been allocated, the exact specifications are from certain. Part of the process that will eventually lead to working drawings includes community outreach. If you're interested in becoming involved, you can contact Jerry Cauthen at Cautn1@aol.com or alternatively, attend the next GLTCC meeting scheduled for this Monday, June 1 at Lakeshore Baptist Church beginning at 7:00 p.m. More about Oakland's Budget Woes Two weeks ago, I shared my feelings regarding past and current budget cuts--particularly with regard to parks and libraries. Some of the specifics regarding the former are coming to light. The figures I've heard second-hand call for a net loss of either 17 or 21 gardeners. Some park facilities have been designated as "Priority" locations. Those that are not so designated will not be receiving "routine maintenance". Currently, Splash Pad Park is on the latter list. At this point, it's not clear what impact this would have on the park and on the Farmers Market, but I can say definitively that fountain maintenance, continued irrigation and regular trash pick-ups are all absolutely essential. Farmers Market News This past weekend, I picked up my first of the season apricots, nectarines and peaches--all great and destined to get even better as the summer progresses. Is that just-picked, sweet corn I see on the horizon? Also, back this past Saturday was Brad Gates with a load of his ever-popular lilacs. If you're interested, go early as he typically sells out within a couple of hours.
Lakeview Garden Center Celebration June 7 Speaking of parks, (but in a far happier context), a celebration of the 100th Anniversary of the founding of the Oakland Parks and Recreation Department is scheduled for Sunday, June 7. Here's the text of the email we received a few days ago: Sunday, June 7, 11:00-4:00, Garden Jubilee Celebration at the Garden Center and Gardens at Lake Merritt, 666 Bellevue, Oakland. Rediscover the Green Heart of Oakland, seven-acres of themed gardens in Lakeside Park. Music throughout the gardens, gardening demonstrations, children's activities, art and food. In conjunction with Oakland Office of Parks and Recreation's 100th Anniversary. Free, with donations happily accepted. For more information contact gardensatlakemerritt@gmail.com or call 763-1959.
Pro Arts Open Studio Tours Begin June 6 If you aren't already tuned in to the East Bay's wealth of highly creative artists (one of the biggest concentrations per capita in the U.S.), the Pro Arts Open Studio Tours is your perfect opportunity. Studio tours span two weekends beginning on June 6. Right in the neighborhood, check out the studio space shared by Jane Norling and Lorrie Fink at 3298 Lakeshore on the second floor above Blockbuster. Reminders: The Oaklandish Salsa Festival is Sunday, May 31 from 1:00 to 6:00 p.m. in the Splash Pad Park Plaza. In the interest full disclosure, I should have noted in the previous newsletter that the author of "The Enthusiast", is a long-time friend, as is his equally talented wife, B.K. I should also have mentioned that they are benefactors for a wide variety of good causes--big and small. In appreciation, I'll be in the front row of his book reading at "A Great Good Place for Books" Thursday, June 4, 7:00 p.m. Other local reading will be on June 8 at 7:00 p.m. at Barnes & Noble in Jack London Square. Splash Pad Newsletter Subscriptions If you have friends, relatives, neighbors or co-workers who may be interested in today's newsletter, please send them this link: http://www.splashpad.org/mostrecent.html. If they choose to do so, they can then subscribe by sending an email to info@splashpad.org. |