Sidewalk Greening Meeting Wednesday Oct 24th, 6pm, 2012

Want a Free Sidewalk Garden at your Home?

With the help of Friends of the Urban Forest (FUF) some of the residents of your neighborhood are beginning to organize a community-based Sidewalk Garden planting on Kansas and Rhode Island from 18^th to 20^th (cross streets included)

FUF fundraises from generous donors to cover most of the cost.

Planting has many benefits:

·      provides natural habitat for

·      birds, butterflies and bees

·      decreases sewer overflows to the bay and ocean

·      increases property values

·      provides a buffer between the street and pedestrians

·       

Funding will cover all of the cost of tree planting (including concrete removal) and FUF will assist property owners with the permitting process, species selection, materials coordination and installation

If you'd like a Garden in front of your home,

Please contact Rich at phgreening2@gmail.com

Join us for a meeting with FUF at the Potrero Hill Library Community Room Wednesday Oct 24^th at 6:00PM

Rsvp to phgreening2@gmail.com

Requirements to get a FUF sidewalk garden:

·     Room on your sidewalk or front yard for a sidewalk garden

·     Property owner signs FUF Letter of Agreement and DPW permit forms

·     Owner or caretaker pays ONLY $300 for DPW permit

Carla Short from SF DPW Urban Forestry will be hosting a kick off meeting for sidewalk greening Potrero Hill at the Potrero Hill Neighborhood house (953 De Haro St)
This Tuesday, Sept 25, 6:30pm-6:55pm (this meeting intentionally goes back to back with the Potrero Booster's meeting at 7pm)

Watch the videos listed at the web sites below, come with, or email questions prior, to address below and they will be consolidated and given to Carla to have as many as possible answered ahead of time.

http://www.sfdpw.org/index.aspx?page=1532
and
http://sfdpw.org/index.aspx?page=1393

This meeting is start the process, give out forms, and are find out how many are interested, if large numbers from residents proceed there are opportunities for grants that would help fund the greening.  

If you want to go green (it should be cheaper than replacing cement),  but can't make the meeting, please email your name / address / phone #, and any questions you may have.

Thanks!

Join us!

Sustainable / native restoration for the McKinley Square Hillside is kicking off for fall, this Sunday Sept 9, 10AM-12Noon.  We are planning hillside restoration days every month, 2nd Sunday, 10AM-12Noon.

Lunch typically sponsored by Goat Hill Pizza & Chiotras Grocery.    Volunteers please bring gloves & gardening tools if you have them, otherwise they will be supplied.  
(Note: December is skipped for holiday season).

If you can't make the gardening days,  donations for plants and materials are welcome.  We are a fiscally sponsored non-profit.

Thanks!

COF Grant Item View fit together with master plan

McKinley Square
COF Grant Overview
View of how COF Grant items fit together with long term potential master plan.
Click on image for larger resolution.

A visit to Mission Dolores Park New Playground Area

Some images from the new playground area at Mission Dolores Park.

Notably a few items that could make sense for McKinley Square:

1. the mixture of native plantings in the middle of the playground area.
2. The "rock?" retaining walls.
3. A long slide [which was brought up a few times at the McKinley Community Meetings].
4. A telescope 

Final native planting day of Spring 2012

Final native planting day of Spring 2012 this Sunday.
June 10th, Sunday 10am-12noon.
Meet at 20th St @ San Bruno Ave
This is the last planting day until next fall.

This is part of a larger effort of hillside restoration, removing invasive weeds, improving trails, removing trash & graffiti. All are welcome to join.

A sampling of the plants, and plant plugs that have or are being put down are:

Yarrow (Achillea millefolium), Sticky Monkey Flower (Mimulus Aurantiacus), Perennial Aster (Aster chilensis), California Scorpion Flower (Phacelia californica), Gum Plant (Grindelia camporum), Costal Buckwheat (Eriogonum Latifolium), Red Fescue (Festuca rubra ‘Molate’) , California Fescue (Festuca californica ), Junegrass (Koeleria macrantha ), Deer Grass (Muhlenbergia rigens), Monardella Villosa (coyote mint), Carex vulpinoidea (Brown fox sedge), Indian milkweed (Asclepias eriocarpa ), Narrowleaf Milkweed (Asclepias fascicularis ), Showy Milkweed (Asclepias fascicularis), Silver Lupine (Lupinus albifrons), Summer Lupine (Lupinus formosus ), Calfornia Melic (Melica californica), One-sided Bluegrass (Poa secunda), Sea Thrift (Armeria)

Each planting effort we try to give plant plugs to each volunteer. Plants that are good for the park & hillside are also good for our backyards, perhaps even better.

Lunch & drinks sponsored by Goat Hill Pizza & Chiotras Grocery .

COF Grant Planning - Stairs

Here are pictures of the current stairs on the west side of Vermont.

Planning would be to have connecting stairs between the "enclave" to the hillside trails to the grass area of the Park.

We are currently working with an architect & engineer on the design. If you would like to help us all are welcome.

This are is the area the stairs would be added.

COF Grant Planning - Drinking Fountain Location

It appears that the preferred are for a drinking fountain "node" on the middle trail is the yellow section of the map below.

This location has views

Does not have much native plants or other vegetation

We can put benches here, and lighting.

We can give it a rustic feel,  similar to this:

http://mckinleysquareblog.blogspot.com/2011/11/visit-to-san-francisco-botanical-garden.html

Here are more pictures from this location:

Community Opportunity Fund Meeting Notes

COF Grant Planning Meeting for McKinley Square

Thursday,  May 24th,   6:30pm - 8pm, Potrero Hill Library.

Attended by.
Richard Drechsler,  Tom Strother, Marjorie Goodwin, Joseph Moore , Jane Westfield,  Kelly Dennehy, Cris Rys
Jacob Gilchrist - SF Rec & Park COF Program Manager, Steve Cismowski - SF Rec & Park, Maria D'Angelico - SF Parks Alliance, John Merten - Studio Green

Jacob GilChrist went over details of Community Opportunity Fund Grant.
Grant is from 2008 Clean & Safe General Obligation Bond  which covers improvements since year 2000 are eligible as matching towards this grant.

Jacob  explained grant is for capitol expenses, not maintenance.

Meeting then focused on applicability of the 15 items from Community Planning meetings list.  Items in bold italic are planned be on this COF grant application.  Community needs to determine costs, locations, and  prioritize .  

1. Remove foxtails(YES but maybe as match, not as part of grant. )    - as foxtails are largely preventing use of the hillside, and thus for the park for its designated use, it will be explored if it can be made a capitol expense.
2. Manage Existing Trees (Not part of this grant)
3. Southwest fencing - (Not part of this grant)   Would be Cal-Trans responsibility, would increase size of hillside usable area.
4. Reforestation plan -  (Not part of this grant)
5. Vermont St Path (Stairs) - (YES)  Investigation / planning will need to occur in next 4 weeks.  Wood or Cement or ?  (Need to verify this does not  trigger ADA)
6. New Pathway connections (Not part of this grant application.)  For area beyond current Cal-Trans fence.
7. Native planting & wildlife habitat improvement (YES, part of grant, plants and resources will be budgeted) 
8. Improve irrigation water access -  (NA) Park & Rec will do, but not part of grant application.
9. Benches on hillside. (Can happen now), Community just needs to pick spots for benches
10. Benches on upper lawn area - (Can happen now), Community just needs to pick spots for benches
11. Improve Signage - On Park & Recreation to do list
12. Install lighting -  (Maybe)  This item did not have strong consensus at this meeting, but did come from community planning meetings so this item may be lower priority for grant.
13. Metal handrails on entrance stairs, (In progress) Park & Rec work order is on its way
14.  Kiosk at park entrance (YES, will be part of grant)
15. Drinking fountain on hillside , middle trail. Yes but community is to decide where. ( French drain,  does this trigger ADA?)

Jacob will provide a time in his office hours to go over 2011 COF Application to provide feedback on what we did well, and how we can improve our COF Application this year.

Long term investigate Nature Pave for middle (and other?) trails?

In the next week, (Wednesday evening?) there will be a meeting to pick location of drinking fountain, bringing in additional members of the community.
Investigation will take place if item 1)  foxtail removal can be made a capital expense. 
Details on stairs will need to be designed.
Details on lighting (if to have them part of this grant request) will need to be determined by priority and matching funds criteria.
Contact John Paul Scott of mayor's office if any of this triggers ADA.
All items on COF grant application will need to be budgeted and prioritized.

Thanks again, we have some work to do, but I have a lot of confidence in our ability to make this a success.

COF Grant Meeting for McKinley Square

Thursday,  May 24th, 

6:30pm - 8pm, Potrero Hill Library.

Jacob Gilchrist, Park & Recreation Community Opportunity Fund  (COF) project manager

Steve Cismowski Park & Recreation Area Manager for McKinley Square

Maria D'Angelico from SF Parks Alliance

Are coming to help us write a COF Grant for McKinley Square.

There is $1.25 million available for the COF grant, with up to $250k for McKinley Square.

This is round 3 of 3 of the COF grant, so this is the last chance for McKinley Square to be part of it.

This meeting is specifically to list out tasks, and form a cross community grant team for the items listed out of the community meetings lead by Studio Green/John Merten.

John Merten listed 15 items, starting on Page 7 of this document.


From this meeting,  a list of tasks will be outlined, and assigned to volunteers to help get the grant written and submitted.

Those who are attending, if RSVP here we can send you more details prior to the meeting. 

The COF grant application is due June 29th, 4pm.

More details on the COF grant can be found here.

Can't make the meeting but want to help?     You are most definitely welcome.    There are various tasks, or just simple letters of community support that will help us get the COF grant.   

Other ways help,   5 minutes a day of picking up glass, or fox tail weeds, or trash, adds up to more than 30 hours a year, which can all be used as matching hours to get McKinley Square grant funds for almost 1000 native plant seedlings. 

Join us on one of our semi-monthly hillside restoration days, meet your fellow community members, with food & drink typically sponsored by Goat Hill Pizza & Chiotras Grocery.

Let us know what we can put you down for, so we can submit that for matching funds towards the community's "sweat equity". 

Financial or resource donations welcome as well, there is non-profit fiscal sponsorship for McKinley Square.

We applied last year, and will be using the previous grant application as a reference,  it can be found here. 

So Thursday May 24th, Potrero Hill Library, 6:30pm - 8pm. 

Thanks!

Bay Area Clean Up?

I received this flyer about a Bay Area Clean Up Friday May 11th, 7-8am, that they would pick up all kinds of items (Monitors, TVs, Water heaters, Stoves, Freezers, Batteries etc )

Is this legitimate?   There is no phone number or web site.   Anyone know more?

If you missed the file link, click here.

Filming to occur on Thursday, May 10th, 2012

Note regarding filming around McKinley Square Area  

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

REVISED  Filming Notice!

Logan Media  Inc.

Filming to occur on Thursday, May 10^th, 2012

Dear Residents:

Logan Media Inc. will be filming scenes for a web video in the Potrero Hill neighborhood.  We will be filming on Vermont Street (crooked part) from 20^th to 22^nd Streets, 20^th Street at De Haro, and 22^nd Street at Rhode Island.  Our work will begin at 7 am and will finish by 10pm.   We will be filming a car doing high speed precision driving.  On Vermont Street we will have a car drive uphill going the wrong way on a one-way street.  On the intersections of 20^th Street at DeHaro and 22^nd Street at Rhode Island we will have a car make a high speed turn.

To facilitate our filming we will be posting “No Stopping” signs in some areas for picture, camera positions, equipment vehicles, and public safety.  We understand that parking in neighborhoods can be quite difficult so we will make it a priority to remove signs in areas that are not utilized or no longer needed.  Signs will be removed upon the completion of our work.

We will have SFPD present to facilitate temporary closures on the following streets and intersections:

Vermont Street from 20^th to 22^nd Streets

20^th Street (from Wisconsin to DeHaro) and DeHaro (from 19^th Street to just south of 20^th Street)

22^nd Street (Kansas to DeHaro) and Rhode Island ( ½ block to Southern Heights and ½ block to 23^rd Street)

We will have a MUNI Supervisor on site to assist in coordinating with incoming buses.  The 19 bus line will be allowed to go through along its regular routes within our street closures.  All residents will have access into and out of the area.  Due to the filming, we will also be conducting intermittent control to pedestrian traffic.  We will have personnel on site to assist you in getting to your destination safely.  Please feel free to contact us with any questions or concerns regarding access to driveways or residence.

Our filming is being coordinated with the San Francisco Film Commission and the S.F. Police Department.  All required insurance and permits are on file at the Film Commission.  We would like to thank you in advance for your cooperation.  We will treat your neighborhood with respect and hope to keep our short stay a welcomed one.

Sincerely,

Saisie Jang and Matthew Riutta

Logan Media Inc.

-------------

Questions?

Saisie Jang

Assistant Location Manager

cell  415-609-7169

Matthew Riutta

Assistant Location Manager

cell  510-282-8497

Film Commission            SFPD

415-554-6241                   415-553-7942

Green Connectors Discussion Coming up August 19, 2012

Date:	Sunday, August 19, 2012
Location:	Potrero Hill Recreation Center, 801 Arkansas Street between 22nd and 23rd Street
Time:	1:00 pm -3:00pm
Duration:	2 hours

Information:   Join Walk San Francisco and the SF Parks Alliance to explore walking connections from Potrero Hill to parks and the Blue Greenway, a 13-mile walkway along San Franciscos southern waterfront. We'll start off at Potrero Hill Recreation Center and head down to the bay, exploring how the City can improve walking connections to parks and the waterfront. Highlights of the tour include Esprit Park, Warm Water Cove, and the new Pennsylvania Community Gardens. Oh yes, and we'll have a special stop for ice cream (optional) at Mr. and Mrs. Miscellaneous. Yum.

More Info:

greenconnections.sfplanning.org

File from 2009 discussion on Green Streets Connectors.

Native Planting April 29, 2012

Wow..  We got a knocked off a lot of foxtail weeds today, and replaced with a whole bunch of natives.   

Thank you all 

April Hillside Restoration Meetup Pictures

The monthly McKinley Square Hillside restoration day with the organizers of the BYOBW was a wonderful sunny day.  

Native plants were tended to in the native triangle on the south side of McKinley Square, and many new plants were planted. 

Come join us for the next monthly clean up in May, or would like more details email us at