FW: Response to Heather
Hollynn D'Lil
Subject: Response to Heather
Dear Park Supporters: Heather Granahan responded to latest email update about the park with some good questions that might interest others. The questions address the nitty gritty of how we're going to do this.
From Heather: I guess the lingering questions for me are: how does a hard-packed-for-years parking lot of gravel translate into grass and trees that are associated with a park? If that transformation is to occur, it will take another pile of money for drainage and irrigation, massive site correction (read: lots of backhoes) , retaining walls, paths and beds, a LOT of soil from outside sources, irrigation, plants, and more. This is another large pile of money! Without this work, the site is a hard gravel parking lot, not a park. And no one who invests will feel like they own a park, just a pavilion site. Which can be cool, just isn't a park. Can we figure a budget for all that work and material? Some can be donated but we are talking serious pro effort and large quantities.
I am not trying to be Negative Nellie at all, just honestly asking about what I suspect is point of hesitation for more folks than just me. I see a lot of positives in the site, as well. Of course, the garden site seems ideal in many other ways, but it is expensive, has no bathrooms/plumbing, and is difficult to police and thus will cost more $$ and labor to maintain. I honestly think the garden site is a good....well, garden. Doesn't mean it can't serve as a social site as well.
I would like to get more behind the park but like many can ill afford the $$ or time without asking all the questions. I hope you understand!
Response to Heather: You are right, Heather, about the amount of money, time and labor it will take to turn that gravel parking lot into a park. We factored in drainage when we put together the estimate for creating the parking and sidewalks for $55K. That will include some civil engineering for the whole site. Once the infrastructure is done, we can begin with the planting of trees and plants and providing pathways, benches and picnic areas. So, yes, after we raise about $600K to purchase the site and provide infrastructure and the pavilion and restroom, much more will be needed.
We believe we can accomplish a lot with volunteer labor and materials. Diane Davis of Grandma Buddy's Tree Farm is donating a row of conifers that will line the south side and create a green visual barrier to block the view of the storage yard to the west of the park. We believe that once the community agrees to how they want that part of the park developed, we can start having weekend work parties.
We plan to have a small lawn area, just enough for the children. We envision the whole park will be a sustainable area for which we will seek advice from the Occidental Arts and Ecology Center. The planting areas will be raised beds and will incorporate mostly native plants. The raised beds and the plantings will be low to insure that sight lines across the park in all directions will be maintained.
So, the bottom line is - once we have the park and have done some basic infrastructure, no, the park will not be finished. It will be a lovingly developed and maintained community project for many years to come. Think of the wonderful artists we can involve in the development of the park. Thank of the wonderful fund raisers we will have there. Think of the fun we'll have at the work parties. Think of the satisfaction of watching it become what we make it.
And, JUST THINK HOW PROUD WE WILL BE OF OUR PARK! OUR PARK.
HolLynn
(original email below)
At 08:45 PM 8/19/2011, you wrote:
A Vision for Graton
It’s the year 2014. Perhaps after retrieving your mail at the post office, you’ll meet a friend in the park across the street. You will plan to return to the park for music night. Tomorrow, you'll take the children to the park for story hour.
Graton Day will be held in the park. Gone are the days when the only way to hold a large community event was to block off the streets. You save a lot of money these days in gasoline as you just don't need to go out of town as much.
How Do We Get There?
Okay, back to 2011. How do we get from here to there? By taking advantage of this economic lull in business as usual. Remember 2007 when every scrap of land was pounced on by developers? That’s not quite the case today which is giving the Graton community the opportunity to create community space in Graton.
So, how does a community create a park? By investing in your future.
Investing in Park Shares
Let’s talk about the park first. The Graton Fire Protection District Board of Directors will most likely put putting the old fire house site up for sale before the end of the year. That means we have only a few months to make sure the site becomes a community space.
The Graton Green Group, a 501(c)3 non-profit provides the framework for the community to create a park at the old firehouse site on Ross and Graton Roads. To that end, the GGG invites you to purchase your Park Share. By pledging to give $5, $10, $15, $20 or more a month, you will be buying a share in the park that gives you a dividend every time you go there. Each dollar you donate is tax deductible!
Here’s the math: A local architect is asking to purchase the old firehouse site for $400,000. That means the community needs to raise close to that amount to be in adequate competition to acquire the property for a park.
Say, there are 1,000 homes in the area that will use the park. To be conservative, say that only 1/3 of the home dwellers will give money to help create that park. That’s 333 purchases of a Park Share. If the average Park Share is $10 per month, that’s about $40,000 per year. If the average share is $15 per month, that’s about $60,000 per year.
If we succeed in persuading the Graton Fire Protection District Board to give us a lease/option to buy the property with a five-year payout, at the end of five years, the home dwellers will have paid almost $200,000 (or $300,000) toward the purchase of the land. With the support of local business and wineries bringing in the rest, we will be proud park owners.
For another $53,000, we can create parking and sidewalks where the west turning lane is now. This will bring the park closer to downtown Graton. For $150,000 (less with volunteer materials and labor) we can turn the north three bays of the firehouse site into a performance/events pavilion. For another $35,000 we can create an accessible restroom. So, we only need $600,000 or so total. (Did I just hear some funny snorting sounds? Could you just get it out of your system and keep reading, please?)
Please think about it. How much does $10 a month mean to you? Giving up a couple of lattes or a cheap bottle of wine per month? Isn’t that a good exchange for dancing/classes/movies/music/theater/parties/art in the park?
Please call Aaron Smith 478 1502 if you have questions or suggestions. Please call if you will help gather pledges for Park Shares.
BTW, Is the Old Fire House Site Safe for a Park?
In September, the equipment and wells to monitor and remediate ground contamination at the old firehouse site will be removed. In a letter dated June 27, 2011, the California Regional Water Quality Control Board, North Coast Region agreed with the Sonoma County Local Program that no further action is required. At their August board meeting, President Bob Maddocks of the Graton Fire Protection District asked if the site is safe for a children’s playground and was told it is and that putting a park on the site would be an excellent use of the site.
Graton Day Graton Green Group Booth
Also, please call David Mahnke at 861 0014 if you will help with the Graton Green Group booth at Graton Day.
Thank you, Park Supporters!
HolLynn, President
Graton Green Group Board of Directors
829 9440