Starting a Friends of the Park Group

Several years, I co-founded the Mission Street Parks Conservancy (MSPC) and led it for three years. MSPC helps take care of Bush's Pasture Park, and particularly its historical garden areas. The organization and park are thriving. Recently, I've taken an interest in my local park, Wend Kroger Park. It's an 7-acre neighborhood park that includes an oak woodland, camas field, stream and riparian area, walking paths, a large lawn, basketball court, and play ground.

The park has a lot of promise, and is well used, but it could be so much more. City, howver, can only do so much. Wendy Kroger is one of 48 neighborhood parks. While the play equipment is in good shape and the lawn is mown, the entrance beds are choked with weeds, invasive plants are taking over the natural areas, there's little shade in the summer, and the woodland paths are overgrown.

I've talked with the Parks Department and they plan to add some trees this fall to better shade the play facilities but the best way to realize our local park's full potential is to organize a Friends of Wendy Kroger Park. If you live near the park and have some ideas or want to help, please contact me or join me at the park on Saturdays from 3 pm to 5 pm. My current project is rehabilitating the west entrance bed.

Video: West Entry Bed Before