Tag: Parks

How Does Your Garden Grow? ASK A PRO!

ask a pro

Welcome to our first installment of our gardening advice blog!   Our Landscape Pros will be doing their best to demystify dirt, revive your roses and green-up your grass in our new blog series!  Of course, we cannot guarantee your results, but hopefully we can put you on the right track and turn your thumb from black to green.

AvocadosQ: Can Avocado trees be raised in containers? – Angel G.

A: Growing any type of fruit tree in a container is tough. The operative word here is “tree.” Trees generally need more root space than most containers can give them, but it can be done! I wouldn’t use a container smaller than a ½ wine barrel- a container with at least 2.5 ft width by about the same depth.

Choose a dwarf-type tree. If a fruit tree is to be kept in a container longer than a few years, it is usually only successful using a dwarf variety. ‘Wurst’ (also called ‘Little Cado’) is a dwarf variety and is sometimes recommended for container planting. This avocado is a hybrid type (a cross between Mexican and Guatemalan varieties) and it is not tolerant of temperatures below 30F.  The one advantage to a container grown plant is that you do have the option to move the container to a protected place when the temperature plummets.

You could also consider a ‘Stewart’ avocado for this climate. It is not a dwarf, but it is a smaller, compact tree and tolerates colder temperatures better than the ‘Wurst’.  I can speak from personal experience to the success of keeping a ‘Stewart’ in a container for a few years before it required root-pruning and re-potting.

Quick Facts

  • Avocados like a planting medium similar to citrus. Make sure that it is slightly acidic and drains well.
  • Don’t expose your young tree to intense sun during the summer.
  • Avocados are very sensitive to salts accumulating in the planting medium, so be sure to flush the salts from the pot periodically.
  • Do NOT over-fertilize avocados –especially when planted in containers. Watch for leaf burn, both from intense sun and over fertilization.
  • Mulch the surface of the pot to keep the shallow roots cool, while allowing air circulation.
  • Don’t expect fruit too soon after planting! It can take 5 years or more before your tree may bear fruit.

Do you have a question? Email us at recnews@redwoodcity.org , Tweet to @rwcparksandrec or comment on Facebook. 

Spring Beauty in Redwood City – Photos

Have you taken your walk today? I needed some fresh air and decided to step out of my office at the Community Activities Building.  I was immediately captivated by all of the beautiful colors surrounding Red Morton Park, so much so, that I was compelled to snap some photos and share them with you!

These cheerful blooms are the work of our talented Landscape Team who continue to amaze us with their wonderful upkeep of our Parks, Planters, Medians, you name it!  In addition to being great at what they do, they are more than happy to share their knowledge with you. If you have any questions about something they are working on, or are just wondering why your Rhododendrons are not flourishing like ours, just ask!

By the way, the Rose Garden adjacent to the Community Activities Building is about to explode with blooms!  Make sure to add it to your walking route in the near future.

Lastly, are you snap-happy with your cell phone? Make sure to follow us on Instagram @rwcparks. Hashtag your shots with #rwcparks or mention us in your posts so we can see what you see.

Get Moving! It’s National Walking Day!

jen_route

We had 25 people – including some of our City Staff, members from our Senior Walking Club, Parents, Children, and one dog (Awww), show up to walk with us today to commemorate the American Heart Association‘s National Walking Day! This crew was lead by our fitness enthusiast Intern, Jennifer Schultz, on a stroll through our lovely Red Morton Park!  Thank you to those who came out to make their commitment to health with us on this somewhat brisk and foggy Bay Area morning!

You too can improve your health, wellness and reduce risk factors by walking just 30 minutes a day! Walking is probably the easiest physical activity to achieve, and can be a great way to socialize (face-to-face!). You don’t need expensive equipment, you don’t have to pay for a membership, and you can just step out the front door and get started! No excuses!

Our nation is becoming more sedentary by the minute. We are spending more time at work than ever before, as well as many of us are glued to our electronic devices (guilty!). The American Heart Association states that these increased levels of inactivity can double our risk of heart disease!

Here are some of the consequences per the American Heart Association: [1]

  • More of us are overweight.
    Adult (and childhood) obesity/overweight level continues to increase: 65% of all Adults are obese or overweight.
  • It is more difficult today to create an active lifestyle.
    People are less active due to technology and better mass transportation; Sedentary jobs have increased 83% since 1950; Physically active jobs now make up only about 25% of our workforce. That is 50% less than 1950.
    Our average work week is longer. Americans work 47 hours a week – 164 more hours a year than 20 years ago.
  • Extra weight costs us physically and financially.
    Obesity costs American companies $225.8B per year in health-related productivity losses.
    The average healthcare cost exceeds $3,000 per person annually. An obese employee costs employer additional $460 to $2,500 in medical costs and sick days per year.

As you age, your body is slowly wearing down, and without physical activity, this process is accelerated. Did you know that for each hour you exercise, you can gain about 2 hours of additional life expectancy? [2] Sounds like a good deal to us! Also, exercise greatly improves your quality of life, positively effecting: circulation, weight, blood pressure, mental health, self-image, strength, bone loss, heart disease, you name it! The benefits are endless. Do you need more reasons? Click here.

Lastly, we have so many ways for you to get moving in Redwood City! We have Fitness Classes, a Drop-In Fitness Center, and Open Gym times to name a few. In addition, here is a list of parks with trails in our immediate area that will help you to ignite your walking addiction!

1. Stulsaft Park

2. Red Morton Park

3. Edgewood Park

4. Huddart Park

5. Wunderlich Park

6. Redwood Shores – part of the Sand Francisco Bay Trail

Did we not list your favorite place? Where do you like to walk? Let us know in the comments!

1. American Heart Association: The Price of Inactivity
2. American Heart Association: Physical Activity Improves Your Quality of Life

Physical Education Is Coming to Redwood City Schools!

Ten Redwood City elementary schools will soon offer physical education for students thanks to a local partnership grant. Redwood City and its Parks, Recreation and Community Services Department will be helping to provide physical education programs to the local youth, in partnership with Peninsula Community Center which has received a grant of more than $575,000 from the Sequoia Healthcare District’s Healthy Schools Initiative.

Through the grant, 10 Redwood City elementary schools will be able to provide physical education classes for students in kindergarten through fifth grades. As a result, more students will have access to fitness education. Physical education has been shown to significantly contribute to students’ well-being, and to their academic success. The majority of children in California are not physically fit, and in San Mateo County, only 25 percent of fifth graders passed the State Physical Fitness Assessment Test in 2010. Although the state mandates 50 minutes of PE per five-day school week, 4 Redwood City Schools have been challenged to meet this mandate due to more than $13 million in budget cuts in the last five years.

In response to this need, the Peninsula Community Center began providing coaches and PE classes to five schools in 2009. The need filled by PCC was well-received, and with proven success and increased demand from principals and schools, the program was expanded and currently serves seven schools.

This new strategic partnership between Redwood City and PCC will provide the PE+ program, a comprehensive, sequential K-5 curriculum, to approximately 5,000 children. With this cooperative services model, and the new support, the program will double the current capacity to meet 100 percent of the state’s PE requirement to Fair Oaks, Garfield, Hawes, Hoover, John Gill, Taft, Selby Lane, Henry Ford and Adelante elementary schools.

“We are so grateful to have the PE+ program and coaches at our site. They are positive role models for our youth,” said Roosevelt Elementary School Principal Patricia Girardi.

We are very excited to be a part of this new and important program!

Music in the Parks = SUMMER’S HERE!

Before we had the Community Living Room – a.k.a Courthouse Square, we had our Parks. The Stafford Park Concert Series always signified the beginning of Summer to me and many of our supportive Mt. Carmel neighbors. What’s better than sitting outside and listening to music, a picnic dinner, meeting your neighbors, having a safe place for your kids to play, all while soaking up some of the best weather in the world? NOT MUCH! And yes, I said it…THE WORLD!

Music in the ParkThis fantastic community event, now known as Music in the Park, begins tonight (6/20) from 6:00-8:00pm at Stafford Park. We’ll open the series with Sinister Dexter, a “ten-piece soul machine that brings the unique sound of the great funk horn bands!” So bring your family, a picnic dinner – or cash for the Optimist Hot Dog & Hamburger Cart (proceeds support Music in the Schools!), a blanket or low lawn chair and whatever attitude you are wearing…because you will leave happy. Promise!

Sounds of the ShoresIn addition to Music in the Park, Sounds of the Shores – our Marlin Park series starts this coming Sunday, June 24th! Local rock band Stealing 3rd, will open our series and get the crowd going on our new day and time! Shows are now on Sundays from 5:00-7:00pm so you can bring the whole family to enjoy this wonderful event!  We’ve not only made the day and time more accessible, but we have your picnic dinner taken care of too. This year, we’ve added FOOD TRUCKS to our event. Capelo’s Hill Country Barbeque will be out there with BBQ sliders, sandwiches, hot dogs, ribs, vegetarian sides and more!! We are looking forward to an AWESOME Sunday in the Shores!

For more info about our bazillion events in Redwood City, the Peninsula’s Entertainment Capital, visit www.redwoodcityevents.com!

Happy Summer y’all!

Parks Make Life Better!

And now a message from our fearless leader…

DIRECTOR, CHRIS BETH! YAAAAAAY!

An extensive research study asked California citizens and public officials “Why are parks important to you?”  The research, sponsored by the California Park & Recreation Society (CPRS), a nonprofit, professional and public interest organization with more than 4,000 members, was used to develop the first-ever brand of the profession. “Parks Make Life Better!” is now being launched by CPRS members statewide, including the City of Redwood City. 
Overwhelmingly, survey respondents value parks and recreation as an essential community service.  Virtually every California household (98%) reported visiting a park during the past year. Forty-two percent visited a park at least several days a week; 26% visited at least once a week, and 68% visited at least monthly. Of these, 55% go with spouse or partner, 53% with kids, 48% with family, 46% with a friend. Only 5% of the users indicated they go alone.

CPRS used the research findings to develop the first-ever brand promise and brand identity for parks and recreation. The brand promise incorporates the benefits Californians reported as most important; the many ways parks and recreation make their lives and communities better. Specifically, parks and recreation make life better now and in the future by providing:

  • Access to the serenity and inspiration of nature
  • Outdoor space to play and exercise
  • Facilities for self-directed and organized recreation
  • Positive alternatives for youth which help lower crime and mischief
  • Activities that facilitate social connections, human development, therapy, the arts and lifelong learning

In short, parks and recreation services make Californians’ lives better.

How does parks and recreation make your life better?

play PLAY
Safe, outdoor space
For us, the biggest benefit is a safe, outdoor play space for our kids today…and as they grow.
nature NATURE
Beauty and serenity
Being in nature makes one feel alive.  We’re very fortunate to have beautiful spaces so close to home.
exercise EXERCISE
Healthy movement
Parks are made for moving at your own pace.  And, recreation programs make it easy to stay healthy.
POSITIVE SPACES
Free-time fun
Neighborhood parks are an escape, a place to run around and play.
GATHERING PLACES
Socializing and learning
Parks are like holidays, bringing us together to share good times.  They are the common ground that connects us all.
FOREVER
Valued today and always
Parks enrich our lives.  They add value to our homes and neighborhoods.  Individually and as a community, we’ll always have that need.
Come out and enjoy any one of Redwood City’s 30 parks and hundreds of recreation programs and services that are offered by our Department.  Please go to www.redwoodcity.org/parks for more information.

PARKS MAKE LIFE BETTER!

Update on Sand Play Replacement Project

Frog feature at Maddux
Ribbit! Meet our new pet at Maddux Park!

Kids playing on new equipment

We take safety very seriously. When we were made aware of a potential problem in our sand play area at Stafford Park back in January of 2009, we addressed this issue head on. Collectively, our staff felt that the right thing to do was to test the sand to see if indeed there was a problem. We found out there was – presence of what we considered high levels of e.coli – and we closed that portion of the park to correct it. We even went so far as to test other sand areas in our parks to ensure that these were safe. Most were, but we did find that we had an issue at Maddux Park as well.

We focused on these two parks by removing the sand and replacing it with large coarse sand, and when e.coli returned, we tried different approaches. From changing the drainage, treating the sand, turning off the water, and incorporating daily screening of the sand, high levels of e.coli returned inconsistently over the past two years. We felt that it wasn’t fair to our park users to come to a park where a portion of it was often closed. We needed to replace the sand play areas at these two parks with something else that still had a “high play value” for children.

The result after two community meetings held at each park was to transform the sand areas into tot water play areas.

We’re happy to report that Maddux Park is now re-opened! The initial reports for our little users are clear through their smiles as they run through the “spitting frogs”.

We’re also very close in re-opening the tot area at Stafford Park. The contractor is finishing up the “punch-list” items and we’ll open as soon as our high standards are met (again, it should be opened soon!).

Thank you for your patience through this project.

CHRIS BETH
Parks, Recreation & Community Services Director