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November 2009
IN THIS ISSUE
ACTION ALERT
STEWARDSHIP PROGRAM FUNDRAISING SPOTLIGHT VOLUNTEER OF THE MONTH NPC PROGRAMS PARK SUCCESS STORY I LOVE MY PARK COMMUNITY EVENTS Thank You To Our 2009 Gala Sponsors
Park Benefactor/ Presenting Sponsor  Park Pioneers James Hormel, Sr. and Michael P. Nguyen MJM Management Group Park Stewards Casa Buena Vista Boris Dramov and Bonnie Fisher Dana and Bob Emery Robert and Chandra Friese Anne Halsted and Dr. Wells Whitney Local 261 Marjorie S. Munson Pacific Waterfront Partners, LLC Julie and Will Parish Patty and Mike Phleger San Francisco Apartment Association The Sutton Law Firm Jerry Tone and Martha Wyckoff Diane Wilsey Park Partners Alvin Baum and Robert Holgate Bionic- Landscape Architecture and Planning Golden Gate Disposal/Sunset Scavenger, Co. San Francisco Recreation and Parks Department Safeway, Inc. |
Vote "Yes" on Proposition C on November 3rd
NPC says YES to Proposition C, and we urge our coalition to do the same. Proposition C would allow the Recreation and Park Department and the San Francisco 49ers to find a sponsor for Candlestick Park Stadium, and to rename the stadium for that sponsor. At least half of the net revenue from the naming agreement would go toward rehiring recreation center directors who were recently laid off during the city's budget crisis. Click here for more information and a ballot analysis. Park Groups Discuss Strategies for Reinvigorating their Organizing Efforts
On October 21st, park group members joined NPC for a discussion called "Recharging Your Park Group" about the challenges of community organizing. NPC Outreach Coordinator Matt Silva presented strategies on how to reinvigorate organizing efforts, add more members to your group, create awareness about your efforts, and set up a structure that will make your group sustainable.  After the presentation, park groups mingled and shared ideas as well. Click here to download the meeting minutes and presentation. The upcoming Proposition C ballot measure was also discussed at the meeting. For more information about Prop C, read the Action Alert above.
Volunteer Workday Brings Native Plants (and Butterflies) to Precita Park On October 3rd, volunteers from Precita Valley Neighbors (PVN) partnered with NPC, RPD and Supervisor David Campos to improve the butterfly garden at Precita Park (Precita and Folsom). Click here to read more about the day, and learn about the improvements that PVN has brought to the park over the years.
Give NPC a Virtual High-five!
 Every day the NPC staff works to improve the quality of our playgrounds and parks. Our Playground Report Card (watch for the new one in early 2010) and online tracking service ParkScan review every park and playground in San Francisco — close to 230! Each month we update you on these reviews by letting you know about park renovations and our advocacy work. Now NPC would love to hear from you! We are hoping our coalition will add a few positive reviews about NPC to Great Nonprofits--the Yelp.com of nonprofit review sites. It will help us to continue to work harder and focus on what you like about the Neighborhood Parks Council. Please click here to give NPC a rave review. Thanks for the cyber high-five!  SF Federal Credit Union Supports NPC!Offer Ends Nov. 30th! San Francisco Federal Credit Union, a not-for-profit, community-based financial institution, is giving back to its community and showing its support for parks! For every credit union member who signs up for e-Statements from now through November 30th, the San Francisco Credit Union will donate $5 to NPC. Click here for more info.
Playfields Stewardship Initiative
Fun Family Events at South Sunset Playground and Silver Terrace 
Last month the Playfields Initiative organized two outreach events to build community and family involvement at Silver Terrace and South Sunset Playground. Click here to see photos and read more about the 2nd annual Silver Terrace Harvest Festival and the Halloween Party at South Sunset Playground.Playground Initiative Eight Playgrounds Upgraded in 2009 NPC’s collaboration with RPD through our Playground Initiative has brought about another round of major playground enhancements this year. The newly released 2009 San Francisco Playground Reassessment Report shows that 8 facilities were upgraded in 2009, thanks to community volunteer workdays organized by the Playground Initiative. Click here to read the complete Reassessment Report and read about the Initiative’s plans for 2010. ParkScan ParkScan: Resolving Real Park Problems in Real Time ParkScan users have facilitated hundreds of improvements at neighborhoods parks so far this year. For example, the Recreation and Park Department was able to remove graffiti on these Jefferson Square stairs after being notified by a ParkScan user:  Now it's your turn! Visit ParkScan.org today and tell us how your park looks! Check out more examples of ParkScan successes at http://www.sfnpc.org/recentparkscansuccesses.
Soccer Players and Others Pitch in at Rossi Playground
On Sunday, October 18th over 40 people came to Rossi Playground, rolled up their sleeves and got to work sprucing up the park. New plantings now adorn Edward Street, replacing the ivy that once suffocated this location. Soccer players and other park lovers joined in to do the heavy lifting, proving that many hands make light work. Volunteers were rewarded with pizza and drinks generously donated by Extreme Pizza. For more information regarding the efforts of the Friends of Rossi Playground, contact Julie Marcus at julie@imagineeringsf.com. For an interview with Mission soccer players Hussin and Carlos about why they love Garfield Square, click here. Did you know there is something you can do to support parks almost every day of the month? Vote for Prop C on November 3rd, join in celebrations at Sunnyside Park and Palega Playground, have a drink to support skate parks, and show off your soccer skills at Garfield Square!
Day of the Dead Procession to Garfield Park: Tonight (November 2nd), 7 PM Vote Yes on Proposition C: November 3rd Lafayette Park Playground Community Meeting: November 4th Sunnyside Park Clubhouse Reopening: November 7th Social Hour at Palega Playground: November 7th Neighborhood Empowerment Network Awards: November 11th Garfield Square Youth Soccer Skills Competition: November 15th SF Skateboarding Association Fundraiser for Waller St. Skate Park: November 15th Duboce Park Community Meeting: November 18th NPC Holiday Party: December 2nd Franklin Square Youth Soccer Skills Competition: December 5th See the complete calendar of community events here. |
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