December 29th, 2009
Welcome to Santa Fe’s newest park! We are the Railyard Stewards, a new grassroots organization working in partnership with the City of Santa Fe, The Trust for Public Land and the Santa Fe Railyard Community Corporation to provide community stewardship and advocacy for the care and programming of the Railyard Park + Plaza. Our unique care, conservation and education effort saw great success in 2009 with community events, educational programs, and the blooming and growing of our City’s newest and largest park and community plaza. Some highlights of our work include:
Park Volunteer Programs: In 2009 the Stewards coordinated over 1300 hours of hands-on care of the Railyard Park + Plaza, with over 150 people participating. The Railyard established many local and low-water plants in the Park in 2009.
Community Food Gardens were established in the Railyard Park, with food from the communal “waffle garden” donated to the Food Depot. Thanks to Santa Fe Community Gardens and the Santa Fe Master Gardeners Association for their hard work on this project!
Outdoor Classroom Programs: The Stewards provided educational programming for local schools and youth groups for service learning and educational programs. YouthWorks River Crew worked to keep the “Acequia Madre” irrigation ditch clean and healthy, and Alvord Elementary participated hands-on science education.
A Community-based, Diverse Board of Directors was formed this year to raise funds and provide direction for our programs, with professionals from design, legal, writing and horticultural professions.
This is just the beginning – we hope you’ll be involved in the Railyard this year!
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December 15th, 2009
- Did you know that the public debut of the Railyard Park and Plaza on Sept. 13 and 14 last year was only the first step of an important relationship between Santa Feans and their new park and plaza? In an effort to nurture this relationship, the Trust for Public Land has formed the Railyard Park Stewards, an all-volunteer group whose mission is to provide community stewardship and advocacy for the future care and programming of the Railyard Park and Plaza.
- Did you know that the Railyard Park and Plaza is a wonderful example of a public-private partnership between the city of Santa Fe, Trust for Public Land and Santa Fe Railyard Community Corporation? The Railyard Park and Plaza Stewards will continue this vital partnership to help maintain the park and plaza as a vibrant, beautiful, popular and safe community gathering place that represents the history, values and aspirations of the people of Santa Fe.
- Did you know that this volunteer project evolved out of a committee of dedicated local advocates who helped design, fund and build the Railyard Park and Plaza? Their work on this new program is modeled after such successful stewards groups as the private, nonprofit Central Park Conservancy in New York, Houston’s Hermann Park Conservancy and Pioneer Square in Portland.
- Did you know that the Railyard Park and Plaza Stewards help develop the community’s experience at the park and plaza by helping to care for the new plants, trees, trails and other places where Santa Feans will gather? The stewards also plan educational public programs and special events at the park and plaza that foster community involvement and ideals of fun, safety, and accessibility for all. Finally, we help raise funds to support future improvements on the property.
- Did you know that you can volunteer now to become a part of the Railyard Park and Plaza Stewards? Your involvement will help inspire a sense of community ownership in the city’s newest and most unique public spaces. For information, call The Trust for Public Land at 505-988-5922 or email railyardstewards@gmail.com.
The Railyard community grand opening weekend is scheduled for Sept. 13 and 14.
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