Home | Education | The Park | Volunteer | Contribute
NEWSLETTER: March 2015
In this issue:
Rotary PlayGarden Dedication
On February 21st, the Rotary Club of San Jose held a dedication to thank the many donors who contributed to the PlayGarden, the club's centennial gift to the community. Mayor Sam Liccardo and GRPC Board President Terry Austen accepted the ceremonial key to the park from Rotary fundraising co-chairs Mike Blach and Bert George. (see header photo)
When Rotary approached the city about a $6 million all-access PlayGarden, they were told that, due to budget cuts, Rotary would need to also pay to maintain it or find a private organization that would. Had we not stepped up, this would have been a deal breaker. Fortunately, our board recognized the importance of this investment to the park and our community and accepted the maintenance responsibility.
We will be fundraising to cover maintenance costs and appreciate all donations.
Interested in volunteering at the PlayGarden? If so, please send a message to volunteers@grpg.org.
We are so grateful for the Rotary's vision, leadership, and generosity! This fantastic park will open sometime in late April, once the landscaping is established -- stay tuned for a date.
Construction Update
As part of the PlayGarden project, the Coleman/Autumn intersection was improved to create access to the new parking lot. To park near the Visitor & Education Center, enter the new lot and take a right at the driveway. Click here for a larger .pdf version.
Adopt a Rose
Many thanks to Schurra's for donating chocolate and discount cards, Catered Too! for delicious cookies, Citti's for their flower-a-month contribution, and to all who adopted a rose. We also appreciate Donna Snodgrass' many hours in the Heritage Rose Garden tending plaques and the volunteers from South Bay Heritage Rose Group whose twice weekly sessions keep the roses looking good.
Education Updates
On February 12th, we helped the California Academy of Sciences, iNaturalist.org, and Nerds for Nature hold a short BioBlitz during the Citizen Science Association Conference at the San Jose Convention Center. Using the iNaturalist app, 48 participants totaled 781 observations and 143 species while walking through Guadalupe River Park.
The next day, we hosted Erick Burres, the Citizen Monitoring Coordinator for the State Water Resources Control Board's Clean Water Team, for a Watershed Management and Assessment workshop. A group of eighteen GRPC staff members, community watershed stewards, and students from San Jose State University learned about conducting a water quality program.
The Morgan Autism Center's recent newsletter features an article about the program's involvement with the park and us. We greatly enjoy their weekly visits!
Volunteer Corner
A hearty thanks to all the volunteer groups that toiled to make GRPG a more beautiful place this past January:
California San Jose Mission
Homestead High National Honor Society
Los Gatos High School
Mission Bay
Piedmont Hills High School Interact
And that is only the groups! We also appreciate the scores of individuals who come out weekly to make a difference. We logged more than 606 volunteer hours in January.
Upcoming Volunteer Opportunties
- Rose Garden Workdays
Weds. and Sats. 8:30-11:30 am. More info.
- Monthly River Clean Up
Sat. March 21, 8:30-11:30 am. Sign up.
- Historic Orchard Volunteer Work Day
Sat. March 7th, 8:30-11:30 am. Sign up.
Meet the Board - Marty Kopp
 Marty is an attorney with the downtown San Jose law firm Hoge Fenton. He is a part of the firm's litigation practice group, handling a wide variety of cases ranging from real estate disputes to the protection of intellectual property rights. An East Bay native, Marty attended law school at Santa Clara University and has not strayed far from San Jose since graduating in 2012. He is a downtown resident, volunteers with Big Brothers Big Sisters, and enjoys sitting and eating, mostly eating, in the Heritage Rose Garden. Thanks Marty for sharing your time and talents with us!
Meet Volunteer Sharon Yee
 Sharon, our newest education intern, is a recent graduate of UC Santa Cruz and is currently working towards her Master's degree at San Jose State. Sharon has a great interest in the environment and joins our organization hoping to gain professional experience in the environmental field. Over time she hopes to combine her love for the environment with her passion for music and the arts. Sharon hikes and loves to attend live theatrical events as well as concerts. She also enjoys capturing some of these performances with still photographs and videos to share with others. Thank you Sharon! |
