Re: Digest for gratongreengroup@googlegroups.com - 2 Messages in 2 Topics

[jgra...@gmail.com]

This is a great vision and we all want this to succeed. However, I think it is important to explain and reinforce to donors what safeguards exist for the contributions if we don't succeed. That will help more folks give with confidence. Thanks! John Graetz

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Date: Mon, 22 Aug 2011 12:29:17 +0000

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Subject: Digest for gratongr...@googlegroups.com - 2 Messages in 2 Topics

  Today's Topic Summary

Group: http://groups.google.com/group/gratongreengroup/topics

• Time to Act! [1 Update]
• FW: Response to Heather [1 Update]

 Topic: Time to Act!

"Hollynn D'Lil" <hd...@comcast.net> Aug 21 09:20AM -0700 ^

 
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


 

 Topic: FW: Response to Heather

"Hollynn D'Lil" <hd...@comcast.net> Aug 21 09:19AM -0700 ^

 
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


 

[Hollynn D'Lil]

Hi John.  Thank you so much for asking these important questions.  What we are doing right now is asking people to pledge that they will donate what they can to acquire the park site.  We are not asking for money right now, so there is no risk, at this moment.

 

As we succeed in having enough people interested in pledging their support so that we can make a bid for the park site, then we will ask those who pledged their support to send the Graton Green Group the funds pledged.  Those funds will be used to make monthly payments on a lease/option, if we are successful in our bid. 

 

If something happens so that once we have the lease/option and can no longer make the payments, we'll have to work that out in our lease/option contract.  There is always a risk with everything, but we believe that if the people of Graton want a park, we'll create one.  I can't imagine what could happen except that for some reason people who have pledged support are no longer able to provide it. 

 

The Graton Green Group books are open for inspection anytime, and we live here, so you can be assured we will be doing our best to make sure the project succeeds.  Everyone is welcome to attend our board of director meetings which happen on the third Friday of every month at 10:00 a.m.

 

We have enough funds raised right now so that we could begin getting some engineering drawings for the site once we have purchased it.  We plan to make some immediate improvements to the corner by eliminating the turning lane which will bring the park closer to downtown. 

 

Right now is a very decisive time.  We can only acquire the property if enough people step forth to pledge their support for its purchase.  I hope you will give a pledge and ask others you know to pledge.  There is no risk to a pledge.  We're asking people to pledge for five years, but, of course, the pledge is revocable anytime.  This is a community venture.  

 

Does this answer your question?   Please don't hesitate to ask again if this doesn't suffice. 

 

We'll be sending out a pledge form soon, but don't hesitate to respond back with a pledge.  Just include your contact information. 

 

Thank you for your interest and support, John!

HolLynn

829 9440