Maxwell Park Neighborhood News

by Sarah Hipolito

Maxwell Park in Maxwell Park

Nancy Karigaca, Park NAT chair, stands by the announcement board behind the Fleming entrance to the Maxwell Park. Photo by Sarah Hipolito.

This year will be the Third Annual Maxwell Park Day-in-the-Park on Saturday, September 13, noon to 5 pm. There will be a music stage, children's activities, great barbecue, and a raffle of goods from local merchants. The park is located on the 4500 block of Fleming, two blocks in from High Street.

If you were there last year or the year before, you will remember the sounds of kids laughing and yelling as they enjoyed their day in the park. You might remember hearing the parents and neighbors discussing what's up in the neighborhood. Remember the taste of the barbecue prepared and sold by Youth UpRising members? Did you get your face painted? Did you perform on the stage? Do you recall watching children decorate rocks, string necklaces, or pet the miniature horse? The children surely do, if they were lucky enough to be there. If you weren't able to attend before, or if you are new to the neighborhood, this is your day to meet your neighbors in our neighborhood park.

Helpers Needed

The Day-in-the-Park is organized by the six-member Community Building Neighborhood Action Team (NAT). Tasks are divided among the members, and they need a little more help. Volunteers can pass out fliers, assist during the day, or help set up or clean up. It takes about $1,300 to put on the event, so cash donations are needed.

Park Improvements

Something else is afoot in the park: some pretty extensive planning by the newly organized Friends of Maxwell Park. There have already been two general meetings, plus a Conversation in the Park totaling about 80 participants. Chaired by Nancy Karigaca, the Friends of MP (previously called the Park NAT), has three teams: survey, fundraising, and design. Nancy says, "We received a tremendous amount of help from Jean Quan's office, especially from Richard Cowan, Sue Piper, and Michael Johnson. Sue Piper has a lot of experience working with park projects, and will guide us in relating to the city. Jim Ryugo from Public Works is working with us. Friends of Oakland Parks and Recreation already has an account for us, through which we can receive tax deductible contributions."

The survey team distributed surveys via the Internet, by hand at neighborhood council meetings, and block parties, and to Maxwell Park Elementary School students. Surveys were also available in a mailbox attached to a bulletin board on the Fleming side of the park. The board will remain in place for announcements, program reports, and suggestions. The fundraising team needs more members, though most of their work will take place later, once initial design plans are worked out. The design team will look at the survey data in August and will present general results at their booth at the Day-in-the-Park.

See You There

Come to the Day-in-the-Park, have fun, and learn more about the Park NAT's planning process. Day-in-the-Park: Helen da Silva, e-mail, hds2288@aol.com, Krista Gulbransen, Krista_gulbransen@yahoo.com; Park NAT, Nancy Karigaca, nkarigaca@comcast.net