We on Stannage Ave between Dartmouth and Gilman were able to prevent an unsightly “too large for the neighborhood and will not be able to handle the associated traffic with the development” project from being built as proposed by SHOWING UP at meetings to voice our concerns. Unfortunately, the economy went south by the time we reached a compromise with the developer and no building stands in the spot. However, an empty space is better than an overcrowded one with a bad traffic plan.

SHOW UP and SPEAK UP if you have an opinion on the Park’s re-design. If you don’t, please don’t complain if you don’t like the results.

City Council emails as of today (good read!)
http://www.albanyca.org/Modules/ShowDocument.aspx?documentid=15362

City Council agenda (Tot Lot is item 7-2)
http://www.albanyca.org/index.aspx?recordid=4296&page=640

Tot Lot sketches
http://www.albanyca.org/Modules/ShowDocument.aspx?documentid=15364

I love your idea of having a day alloted to working at the tot lot to perhaps add additional traction paint for the steps, to put in even more greenery, and to get rid of more concrete.  

Emilie, I know you are getting ready to do a story on the community effort here for the Albany Patch, so you should know that the Parks and Rec. Dept. sent a letter to all the neighbors saying that a City Hall Meeting is planned for 10/14 at 7pm.  Not sure I can make it as I have a PTA mtg. at Cornell, but I hope that the spirit of what we neighbors wanted to do is captured, and that the City and Rec. Dept. learn the following:

1) The plants that were donated were specifically requested to be non-invasive, urban strength, drought tolerant and non-troublesome over time.

2) Neighbors donated compost and mulch, which is in the spirit of the greening of Albany.

3) Paint was donated by Pastime Hardware in El Cerrito, and the vast majority of it is paint which is designed for covering exterior cement/garages and metal.

The businesses which donated plants were: Westbrae Nursery and Magic Gardens, Berkeley Horticulture and Yabusaki’s Dwight Way Nursery gave a significant discount, and East Bay Nursery donated seeds – native wildflowers which may appear next spring.

There is still a gallon and a half of industrial, exterior primer if the City wants any parts of it re-done, etc. and 2 gallons of the same quality of blue.

The ultimate goal is for us to expand the vision of the greening of Albany, partnering with the City to make better use of our parks, schools, curb strips and public land.  We welcome the guidance and direction of the City in making this a safe process.

Sincerely,

Joanna

I will be at the meeting on the 14th and speak to a few of these issues. Other than doing some minor pruning on some of the street trees I have not done too much with the Tot Lot. I look forward to hearing what others have to say.

This is a difficult area to work in (small with children). The biggest obstacle is the sand. It’s everywhere. Can we figure out some way of containing the sand? I would also recommend that we do a Saturday dedicated to the Tot Lot and surrounding blocks – plant trees and other plants, clean-up areas, prune existing trees and shrubs, maybe paint. We could also remove some concrete the week before.

-Tony

Tony Wolcott
Urban Forester
City of Albany
Board Certified Master Arborist
ISA#WE3284
(510) 559-4275
Fax – (510) 524-9722
Email twolcott@albanyca.org

NOW on twitter and Facebook Fan page – TreeMan_Tony