Guadalupe River Park Conservancy

Winter on the Green in Arena Green West

noreply@blogger.com (Guadalupe River Park Conservancy) — Fri, 17 Dec 2021 21:52:00 +0000

Don’t miss the free, fun, family-friendly event Winter on the Green! Held Saturday 12/18 and Sunday 12/19 from 12 - 4PM in Arena Green West, there will be a rock wall, live music, food trucks, a beer garden, and more to enjoy! This event in hosted in collaboration with Viva Parks and San Jose Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Services.

Press Release: New Workforce Opportunities for Youth and Unhoused Residents

noreply@blogger.com (Guadalupe River Park Conservancy) — Mon, 08 Mar 2021 15:00:00 +0000

New Workforce Opportunities for Youth and Unhoused Residents as Nonprofits Improve Maintenance of San José’s Guadalupe River Park
Valley Water grant enhances stewardship of downtown park as Guadalupe River Park Conservancy partners with workforce development programs serving young adults and unhoused individuals.

Three local nonprofits begin a new partnership in the Guadalupe River Park to remove trash, clean up the trail, and provide outreach to unhoused residents. The Guadalupe River Park Conservancy (GRPC), San Jose Conservation Corps + Charter School (SJCC+CS), and Downtown Streets Team (DST) initiated a two-year pilot initiative in February to address ecological concerns in the park around litter while incorporating workforce development opportunities for youth and people experiencing homelessness. The pilot was catalyzed through an initial investment by the Santa Clara Valley Water District (Valley Water) as part of their Safe, Clean Water and Natural Flood Protection program. This follows a strained period where public services were reduced, volumes of trash increased, and traditional methods of providing social and park services were impacted due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The Safe, Clean Water and Natural Flood Protection Program is designed to provide grant funding for innovative programs like this,” said Tony Estremera, Chair of the Valley Water Board of Directors. “While the past year has been a challenge, Valley Water will continue to partner with the community to keep our creeks clean and assist the unhoused population.”

A team will be present within the park five times a week, maintaining and cleaning up trails, providing outreach and trash bags to unhoused park residents, and reporting illegal dumping concerns. SJCC+CS will support landscape maintenance, trail safety patrols, and incident reporting. DST will lead trash removal and homeless outreach. GRPC will host regular volunteer cleanup workdays and coordinate maintenance efforts with other nonprofits and public agencies in the Guadalupe River Park area.

"This is a great opportunity for additional resources to support the maintenance and condition of the GRP," says San Jose District 3 Councilmember Raul Peralez. "The Guadalupe River Park is an asset in our City and cross-sector partnerships such as this one not only help to restore the park, but allow it to thrive."

“I've really enjoyed working outdoors during the pandemic, helping clean up the place and doing something for the community,” says Aleta Kerrick, a regular volunteer at the Guadalupe Gardens. “Lots of people from all these different organizations working together to take care of the park - that will be wonderful! I'd love to see the park become a place everyone loves to visit.”

This pilot project is an expansion of GRPC’s Urban Park Stewardship program, which aims to improve park maintenance, reduce trash and pollutants from entering our river, promote civic engagement and environmental awareness, and improve overall quality of life. The program also includes volunteer opportunities for neighbors and businesses, helping to build partnerships between the City of San josé and local stakeholders and encourages collaboration with community groups such as the Rotary Club of San Jose, UC Master Gardeners of Santa Clara County, and South Bay Clean Creeks Coalition. Community engagement as well as the impact of the project will be evaluated on an ongoing basis.

“It’s exciting to see the Conservancy and our nonprofit and public partners come together and creatively reimagine what park stewardship could be, and how we can ensure more people benefit and contribute,” says Marguerite Lee, GRPC Board President. “I believe this is just a start of more partnership-driven park stewardship initiatives.”

ABOUT
The Guadalupe River Park Conservancy provides community leadership for the development and active use of the Guadalupe River Park & Gardens through education, advocacy, and stewardship. The Guadalupe River Park is a three-mile ribbon of parkland that runs along the banks of the Guadalupe River in the heart of downtown San josé. Key park assets include the Rotary PlayGarden, Heritage Rose Garden, and the River Trail that connects downtown San José to the Bay Area waters.

San Jose Conservation Corps + Charter School develops the personal, professional and academic skills of young adults in Silicon Valley to prepare them for a family-sustaining career. Corpsmembers in the workforce development program gain skills in green-collar jobs while students at the Charter School receive personalized attention to earn their high school diploma. Corpsmembers complete projects in natural resource conservation, zero waste operations, tiny house construction and emergency services, contributing to a more resilient community and environment.

Downtown Streets Team (DST) builds Teams that restore dignity, inspire hope, and provide a pathway to recover from homelessness. We do this by engaging people at-risk of or experiencing homelessness in a program which builds community, helps people work towards self-sufficiency, and achieve a higher quality of life through obtaining permanent employment and sustainable housing. On the surface, DST seems simple, but as we understand the root causes of each individual’s homelessness and the barriers preventing them from regaining the purpose in their life to achieve self-sufficiency, we know that the issues and solutions are much more complicated. In the 16 cities in which we operate throughout the Bay Area and across Northern and Central California, DST provides support and connects individuals to the resources needed to make steps out of homelessness. We have been recognized as one of the most innovative and effective non-profits fighting homelessness in California.

Valley Water manages an integrated water resources system that includes the supply of clean, safe water, flood protection and stewardship of streams on behalf of Santa Clara County's nearly 2 million residents. Valley Water effectively manages 10 dams and surface water reservoirs, three water treatment plants, an advanced recycled water purification center, a state-of-the-art water quality laboratory, nearly 400 acres of groundwater recharge ponds and more than 275 miles of streams. We provide wholesale water and groundwater management services to local municipalities and private water retailers who deliver drinking water directly to homes and businesses in Santa Clara County.

San Jose Conservation Corps Members after collecting trash. Credit: San Jose Conservation Corps + Charter School

A Downtown Streets Team Member poses with "Children at Play" public art. Credit: Downtown Streets Team

Press Release: Guadalupe River Art Walk AIR Kristina Micotti

noreply@blogger.com (Guadalupe River Park Conservancy) — Fri, 05 Mar 2021 16:00:00 +0000

NEW MURAL IN DOWNTOWN SAN JOSE BRIGHTENS THE GUADALUPE RIVER TRAIL WITH COLORFUL CHARACTERS INSPIRED BY LOCAL WILDLIFE
Second mural of the Guadalupe River Art Walk project shows a playful park experience

POW! WOW! San Jose (PWSJ) and Guadalupe River Park Conservancy (GRPC) have teamed up to bring the experience of a global public art movement into one of San Jose’s most unique natural assets, the Guadalupe River Park in downtown San Jose, creating the Guadalupe River Art Walk. The Guadalupe River Park will act as a “nature studio,” hosting a series of Artist-in-Residencies over the course of a year to deliver the combined benefits of public art and parks.

The second Artist-in-Residence, Kristina Micotti, recently completed her mural titled “Do You Know The Way to San Josè's Guadalupe River Trail?,” further expanding the Artist-in-Residencies series within the Guadalupe River Park. The latest mural is located along the Guadalupe River Trail under Santa Clara Street and is now accessible now to the public. An accomplished local illustrator, this artwork would be Kristina’s first public mural.

“Using fun and bright colors, the mural is a way to bring awareness not only to the native wildlife but to the actual trail itself,” says Kristina Micotti. “The Guadalupe River Trail is truly one of the most beautiful places in San Josè and I was very fortunate to paint there. From biking to bird watching, the trail has so much to offer our city. The playful characters are my way of inviting the public down to the trail and to encourage them to enjoy it for themselves.”

"It is timely that this artist in residency program, bringing vibrancy and activity to the Guadalupe River Park, is happening when our greenspaces are most valued. The series of murals, envisioned and painted by local artists, will encourage deeper exploration and celebration of our city river," says Marie Millares, Street Life Manager at San Jose Downtown Association (SJDA).

The new mural is sited in an area currently experiencing major development interest. This segment serves as a key connection point between Diridon Station and downtown San Jose to the many diverse neighborhoods along the Guadalupe River, and eventually to the San Francisco Bay.

“There are many factors to consider when designing trails in San Jose,” says Yves Zsutty, Division Manager for the City of San Jose’s Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Services Department. “A key element is to provide moments of joy and reward along a trail. It has been a fantastic process hearing the community’s first impressions of this mural, knowing that their bike ride was made more joyful.”

The artist and creative team will host a virtual mural unveiling on March 19 at 6:00PM in partnership with a San Jose-based arts collaborative, Chopsticks Alley, which seeks to uplift Southeast Asian American culture, creativity, and leadership. Kristina will also release a limited edition pin this spring commemorating this occasion. Proceeds will benefit the mission and programs of GRPC.

POW! WOW! San Jose and the Guadalupe River Park Conservancy are grateful for the support of Applied Materials, Kelly Moore Paints, City of San Josè’s Office of Cultural Affairs and Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Services Department, the San Jose Downtown Association, and the Knight Foundation for their commitment to arts, culture, and public space in San Jose. For more information about how to donate or to become a sponsor, please visit https://www.powwowsanjose.com/donate.

About Artist-in-Residence Kristina Micotti:
An illustrator and designer from San Jose, California, Kristina’s illustrations are playful, bold, and simple. She likes to create anything that makes her laugh and aims to spread joy with her work. Kristina’s work varies from minimalist to extremely detailed but always maintains a whimsical quality. You can find her fun characters adorning everything from prints, blankets, to pins and hats. Kristina’s challenge of pushing herself doesn't go unrecognized as not only is this her very first mural but it covers over 2,550 square feet of wall space.

About POW! WOW! San Jose:
POW! WOW! San Jose, established in 2017, is an internationally-branded and locally-led mural festival rooted from a collective of San Jose artists and creatives from Empire 7 Studios—a contemporary urban art gallery and cultural institution in Japantown, San Jose, California. The organization leads are Co-Directors Juan Carlos Araujo, Stacey Kellogg, and Jennifer Ahn. Collectively, the PWSJ team has produced over 60 murals throughout the City in various neighborhoods with a focus on under-served areas.

About Guadalupe River Park Conservancy:
The Guadalupe River Park Conservancy is a 25 year-old organization that provides community leadership for the development and active use of the Guadalupe River Park & Gardens through education, advocacy, and stewardship. The Guadalupe River Park is a three-mile ribbon of parkland that runs along the banks of the Guadalupe River in the heart of downtown San Jose. Key park assets include the Rotary PlayGarden, Heritage Rose Garden, and the River Trail that connects downtown San Jose to the Bay Area waters.

To learn more about:
Kristina Micotti, please visit www.kristinamicotti.com
POW! WOW! San Jose, please visit www.powwowsanjose.com
GRPC, please visit www.grpg.org

Photo credits: Lan Nguyen

Artist Kristina Micotti

View of the mural looking north along the Guadalupe River Trail at Santa Clara Street

View of the mural looking south along the Guadalupe River Trail at Santa Clara Street

Press Release: San Jose’s first all-inclusive play space reopens after 10 months of closure

noreply@blogger.com (Guadalupe River Park Conservancy) — Wed, 20 Jan 2021 16:00:00 +0000

A key asset of the Guadalupe River Park & Gardens, the Rotary PlayGarden, reopens on Saturday, January 23 at 10:00AM. The beloved play space closed for 10 months due to COVID-19 restrictions. Located at the southern end of the Guadalupe Gardens and the Mineta San Jose International Airport, the PlayGarden was a centennial gift to the city by the Rotary Club of San Jose, opening to the public on May 23, 2015. Prior to the pandemic, the PlayGarden saw 150,000 visitors a year.

“The Rotary PlayGarden was born from the belief that children of all abilities should have a clean, safe, and welcoming place to play and socialize” says Leslee Hamilton, Executive Director of the Rotary Club of San Jose. “The excitement behind the reopening reinforces the importance of recreation and play, particularly during the current pandemic.”

Beginning Saturday, January 23, the PlayGarden will be open on a limited basis between Fridays through Sundays, 10:00AM to 4:00PM. Capacity of the PlayGarden is limited to 60 visitors at any given time, and in accordance with public health guidelines, visits are limited to 30 minutes maximum. Visitors are asked to sanitize their hands, maintain six-foot distance, and wear masks at all times.

“Our team is very excited to reopen the Rotary PlayGarden again and safely operate this community amenity to support play that transcends physical limitations,” says Joe Salvato, Deputy Director of the Guadalupe River Park Conservancy.

Just prior to the closure, the PlayGarden celebrated its 750,000th visitor and the completion of a new shade structure at the end of 2019. Future plans include a $2 million expansion, managed by the City of San Jose with funding from Santa Clara County. Construction is scheduled to begin at the end of 2021.

“We have seen tremendous support and appreciation for what the Rotary PlayGarden provides to the residents of Santa Clara County in the last five years,” says Supervisor Cindy Chavez. “Our community is looking forward to its reopening and expansion in the near future.”

The Guadalupe River Park Conservancy actively manages thePlayGarden in partnership with the Rotary Club of San Jose, City of San Jose, County of Santa Clara, Hope Services, and community volunteers and members to support maintenance, programs, and staffing of the play space. Additional details around safety practices while visiting the PlayGarden and other information around the Guadalupe River Park & Gardens are at www.grpg.org.

About Guadalupe River Park Conservancy:

Guadalupe River Park Conservancy, a not-for- profit 501(c)3, provides community leadership for the development and active use of Guadalupe River Park & Gardens through education, advocacy and stewardship.

Photo credits: Guadalupe River Park Conservancy

Press Release: Guadalupe River Art Walk AIR Roan Victor

noreply@blogger.com (Guadalupe River Park Conservancy) — Fri, 20 Nov 2020 02:20:00 +0000

POW! WOW! San Jose and Guadalupe River Park Conservancy have teamed up to bring the experience of a global public art movement into one of San Jose’s most unique natural assets, the Guadalupe River Park in downtown San Jose, creating the Guadalupe River Art Walk. The Guadalupe River Park will act as a “nature studio,” hosting a series of Artist-in-Residencies over the course of a year to deliver the combined benefits of public art and parks.

The first Artist-in-Residence, Roan Victor, just completed her mural titled “Flow of Life,” kicking off the Artist-in-Residencies series. The new mural is located over the Guadalupe River on Woz Way and is accessible now to the public.

“Roan’s mural is the first step in our vision to produce the longest public art corridor in the Bay Area, through a series of residencies featuring local and visiting artists to create an inclusive and vibrant cultural experience along our urban river.,” says POW! WOW! San Jose Co-Director Stacey Kellogg

“The imagery of a river turning into an arm, vice versa, in my proposal essentially represents the river flowing to give life.” Victor says about her mural concept. “Historically, I believe the river became a source of food and livelihood to the natives of the land; humans, wildlife and vegetation. And as we approach a changing climate, the river adapts and life keeps flowing. My intent is to provide a message of hope and a feeling of peace and tranquillity by being surrounded by the beauty of nature.”

“Our project is located in the intersection of public art, open space, civic engagement, and the creative economy,” says POW! WOW! San Jose Co-Director Juan Carlos Araujo.

“It’s wonderful to see this breath-taking artwork here. As an avid trail cyclist, it’s phenomenal to find new surprises along the Guadalupe River Park,” says Carl Salas, a board member of the Guadalupe River Park Conservancy.

POW! WOW! San Jose and the Guadalupe River Park Conservancy are grateful for the support of the City of San Jose, Applied Materials, Kelly Moore Paints, and the Knight Foundation and for their commitment to arts, culture, and public space in San Jose. For more information about how to donate or to become a sponsor, please visit https://www.powwowsanjose.com/donate.

About Artist-in-Residence Roan Victor:
Lush foliage, textiles, patterns and figures in passive poses are common subject matters in Roan Victor’s paintings. Her recent works, in gouache and watercolors, exude calmness and contemplation as figures are enveloped in comforting settings. This is also reflected in her murals with the same elements painted larger than life. Roan Victor owns The Arsenal with her husband Sean Boyles, an art store and art studio located in Japantown San Jose. Having The Arsenal gives Roan and Sean a place to share their knowledge in art to both youth and adults and lets them provide the same opportunities to fellow artists in our community.

About POW! WOW! San Jose:
POW! WOW! San Jose, established in 2017, is an internationally-branded and locally-led mural festival rooted from a collective of San Jose artists and creatives from Empire 7 Studios—a contemporary urban art gallery and cultural institution in Japantown, San Jose, California. The organization leads are Co-Directors Juan Carlos Araujo, Stacey Kellogg, and Jennifer Ahn, with combined experience in project management implementation, fundraising, logistics, communications, volunteer coordination, coalition building, and deep connections to the region’s creative community. Araujo currently serves as SJ Arts Commissioner and has extensive experience working with youth, especially disadvantaged or at-risk minors, in the pursuit of art creation and advocacy. Kellogg is a local attorney and business advisor, passionate about using her strategic development skills to elevate public art in San Jose. Collectively, the PWSJ team has produced over 60 murals throughout the City in various neighborhoods with a focus on under-served areas.

About Guadalupe River Park Conservancy:
The Guadalupe River Park Conservancy is a 25 year old organization that provides community leadership for the development and active use of the Guadalupe River Park & Gardens through education, advocacy, and stewardship. The Conservancy is continually involved in completing the master plans for both the park and gardens, creating educational programs, promoting awareness of the Park & Gardens, and developing membership and volunteer opportunities to increase public support and involvement.

The Guadalupe River Park is a three-mile ribbon of parkland that runs along the banks of the Guadalupe River in the heart of downtown San Jose. Key park assets include the Rotary PlayGarden, San Jose’s first all-inclusive playground, Heritage Rose Garden, featuring over 2,600 varieties of roses, the River Trail that connects downtown San Jose to the Bay Area waters, and an impressive collection of public art and memorials in all of San Jose. It is a resource of regional importance to the people of Santa Clara County and the Bay Area.

To learn more about:
Roan Victor, please visit www.roanvictor.com
POW! WOW! San Jose, please visit www.powwowsanjose.com
GRPC, please visit www.grpg.org

Photo credits: Lan Nguyen

GRPC Community Survey

noreply@blogger.com (Guadalupe River Park Conservancy) — Thu, 27 Aug 2020 22:56:00 +0000

Guadalupe River Park Conservancy is seeking community feedback on a number of topics around the use and perception of the Guadalupe River Park, community sentiment around the River Park, public art ideas, and how our community engages with our public space. Visit our website at www.grpg.org to learn more about what we do.

Please help us by answering some brief questions via our survey.

What “Great” Public Spaces Do: Redefining the Role of the Guadalupe River Park

noreply@blogger.com (Guadalupe River Park Conservancy) — Fri, 12 Jun 2020 13:00:00 +0000

Birds wade through floodwaters north of Coleman Avenue. Photo by GRPC staff.

The first 6 months of this new decade have redefined the role parks play in our community.

We know (and may take for granted) that parks offer opportunities for recreation, attract development interest, connect people to nature, and promote walking and biking. This precious social infrastructure has also adapted to include new uses: immunity-boosting and mental health healing, supporting essential services (particularly food cultivation and services distribution), providing opportunities for economic recovery, and allowing protestors a safe outdoor place to gather.

The growth in demand and expansion of uses compels us to redefine the role of parks and our role as the community that supports them.

2020 has brought with it unprecedented challenges to our communities, cities, and civics. The COVID-19 health crisis has exposed vulnerabilities in our public health and safety network. The impacts of the pandemic and the necessary shelter-in-place practices have led to an economic downturn and historically high unemployment. The protests following the death of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, and many others have exposed systemic racism and oppression all too familiar for Black people and communities of color.

This follows the ongoing momentum and challenges directly impacting the Guadalupe River Park and its surrounding community. The River Park is geographically central to one of the region’s largest public infrastructure and private development projects in the Diridon Station Area, particularly with BART, California High Speed Rail, and Google’s Downtown West, in addition to a number of other commercial, residential, and transportation investments - embodying the transformation of our city. Yet simultaneously, the impacts of the housing affordability and homelessness crisis have led to a significant houseless population living dangerously close to a river that floods annually, which exacerbates a contentious relationship between encampments and ecology, and leaves many without the dignity of a home.

Our community is faced with navigating uncharted territory, centering collective prosperity around public life, and restructuring our social, civic, and economic systems for equity. We must work towards these goals, keeping in mind the challenges layered by a public health crisis, systemic racism, and economic downturn. With this in mind, it is helpful to audit the social infrastructure and community assets we already possess and invest in them in ways that will translate to the greatest level of community impact. A place to begin is with our parks.

Do I think parks are the panacea to all of our social ills? No.
Do I believe they play a part, both in the near and long term, in our community's resilience? Absolutely.
Are we positioning our parks to be more responsive to the changing and expanding roles they continue to play in our community? This question guides the foundation of this initiative.

Catalyzed by investment from the Knight Foundation and the City of San Jose Department of Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Services, the Guadalupe River Park Conservancy (GRPC) embarks on a partnership with the City and SPUR to better understand the environmental, economic, and equity factors in our community that the Guadalupe River Park would impact. GRPC is San Jose’s nonprofit partner for the active use and development of the Guadalupe River Park, promoting these goals with the values of education, advocacy, and stewardship. We believe that the River Park can become San Jose’s “civic greenway,” offering a place for people to connect: with community, with history, with nature, and with each other.

The long-term direction of the park will be developed through a visioning and community engagement process in order to better understand how our park can serve the ecosystem of community-based supporters that share a vision for a better River Park. This process will also require GRPC to undertake a certain amount of introspection in order to determine the type of organization that will address the multitude of priorities our park and community have.

Our future success will be dependent on civic partnerships and leveraging the foundation of decades of leadership that continues to propel aspirations and optimism forward for our River Park. Alongside our alliance of community partners including: SPUR, Rotary Club of San Jose, South Bay Clean Creeks Coalition, Urban Confluence, UC Master Gardeners of Santa Clara County, our City and County elected leaders and public officials, neighborhood residents, businesses, cultural institutions, and more; we have confidence to make strides in fulfilling the bold plan for the Guadalupe River Park.

We all have ideas about how a great public space should look. However, this year has taught us that reframing the discussion from what a great public space should have to what a great public space should do is paramount to serving our communities more equitably. Through this initiative, we intend to re-examine these questions:

What makes a great public space?
What can public spaces do to capture the spirit of our city?
How can public spaces be reflective and reflexive to the needs of our neighborhoods and the crises, present and systemic, we face collectively?

The conversation is no longer centered around what a park needs to become a great public space, but what a park provides to make the community a great public place.

Join us as we reflect and re-envision what a great public place means; we offer the Guadalupe River Park as a vessel to achieve it.

Jason Su, Executive Director
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