In our continued effort to give back to our community, Keep Oakland Beautiful partnered with Iconoclast Productions and other neighbors of Courtland Creek Park on Saturday, April 20. In addition to picking up litter and spreading mulch for weed control, we helped restore this towering monument that honors the history of the Leona Line cable car and station that once existed in this Oakland neighborhood.
Keep Oakland Beautiful took part in an event that honored the life of Oakland resident, Michael Stewart who worked with the City of Oakland to make this neighborhood safe, clean, and a unique place to live. Michael passed away from complications from the flu on March 11th of this year. On Earth Day, volunteers planted a tree in his honor along the walkway where he walked his dog, Ingo, twice a day.
Michael was integral to the formation of the Jingletown Arts Community, where he and his partners developed the first legal live-work art studio building in the area, which led the way for many artists to settle in the neighborhood art district. He was also an important community activist, a voice for the Jingletown neighborhood, helping to make it a clean, safe and artistic haven in Oakland. Michael was awarded a tribute by Oakland's City Council for his never ending volunteer work appreciated by all who lived in the Jingletown Art district. Keep Oakland Beautiful partnered on three earth day events in Oakland this past weekend on April 20. Over 50 volunteers gathered in Jingletown and filled a dumpster with trash and separated out a large pile of green waste. Volunteers in Jingletown also painted over graffiti on the White Elephant Building (see below)
Volunteers also weeded the Jingletown Art Wall. Former long-time board member Cynthia Elliott explained that about 10 years ago, with a small grant from Keep Oakland Beautiful, they installed The Lady of Guadalupe in the center of the wall in an effort to transform what was then a very unkempt dump site. The wall, which spans an entire block, is now covered in art from end to end and has a garden path in front of it and has become a neighborhood attraction. Last November, Keep Oakland Beautiful gave away 5,700 daffodil and native bulbs, and countless wildflower seeds for planting in public spaces. Right now our daffodils are in bloom! Brodiaea, California poppies, and native wildflowers will soon follow! Some of our volunteers shared pictures and information about their sites. Here are some highlights Hillcrest Middle School Amanda Lacau and her crew planted their bulbs and seeds on December 6, 2018 at the Hillcrest Middle School and across from the school’s nature area on the corner of Buckey and Mandalay. Looks like they had a great time! Here are the results of all their hard work ... Community Gardens at Lakeside Park Tom Branca said his garden, which belongs to Landscape Horticulture/Merritt College, is maintained by the students of the Urban Gardening Class, which they have been doing for over 20 years. This was the first community garden at Lakeside Park. Students enjoyed planting the bulbs knowing that they would all be there to see them bloom and enjoy. Oakland Animal Shelter
Michael Frazier has some nice blooms at the Oakland Animal Shelter. |
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