Frog in the News

FROG IN THE NEWS

NEWS ARTICLES 2002-2003 By Madeleine Nelson age 10

The Rockridge News (Select Articles)
Frogpark Coordinator Bids Farewell to Her Legacy, by Jackie Tasch, March 8, 2003
Rockridge Area Garners Seven Silver Stroller Awards, by Sarah Comey Cluff, June 8, 2002
City Fetes Frogpark Builders, by Sally Fitzhugh, May 4, 2002

NEWS ARTICLES 2001

The Oakland Tribune
Volunteers breaking ground for new park, by Laura Casey, Cover Story of the Cityside Section, September 9, 2001
Fun experts (children) help park designers, by Glenn Chapman, March 25, 2001
Council backs $450,000 for Rockridge park, by Glenn Chapman, January 15, 2001

The Montclarion
FROG hops to it - project is under way, by Ian Bauer, Cover Story, September 11, 2001
Friends getting together for The Big Build, by Ian Bauer, Cover Story, August 10, 2001
Temescal and Rockridge children help design future playgrounds, by Ian Bauer, March 27, 2001
Greenbelt construction funds divided up, by Ian Bauer, January 26, 2001

East Bay Moms
Oakland Parents Working on Major Gift to Local Kids, by Sally Fitzhugh, June 2001

NEWS ARTICLES 2000

The Oakland Tribune
Success looms for Rockridge Temescal creekside park bid, by Glenn Chapman, October 3, 2000

San Francisco Examiner
Community Building,, by Vicki Haddock, August 27, 2000

8/27/00, SFE, Community Building

Millenium Playground in San Enselmo was just a patch of dirt, nothing more than open space and pipe dreams. Then one morning hundreds of volunteers arrived. In just six days, the town had a spectacular playground they could never otherwise have afforded and worth an estimated $1 million. Nyberg, the park director, pronounced it "an absolute, unequivocal success." Not everybody is similarly enthused. Crediting community-built playgrounds with creating a sense of community, UC David landscape professor Mark Francis faults them for relying on a structure at the expense of natural wild spots. Susan Goltsman of MIG, thinks the child's play aspect of it stinks, "if the children don't get interaction with nature, they won't know how to protect the Earth." Perhaps the most daunting caveat is the extraordinary effort it requires. ZaZa Swanson in Berkeley said "the worst moment was when my son told us this playground has taken my parents away! But later he added, this is the greatest playground ever. I can't believe you've done all this for me." Back to top

10/3/00, OT, Success looms for Rockridge Temescal creekside park bid

A creek bed is poised for rebirth as a community park stretching from Rockridge to Temescal. Council member Jane Brunner has helped secure roughly $500,000 for the first phase of the project. Community organizers are busy raising additional funds to complete the park. Popular restaurants in the Rockridge area signed on to help raise park money by accepting a FROG dining card, which diners present for meals discounts. Early estimates put the total cost of the project at $800,000. The area has long suffered from a dearth of park space, while the number of families with young children has multiplied. The first phase of the park is expected to begin construction early next year. Oakland's Parks and Recreation Department will manage the park. Back to top

1/6/01, RN, Rockridge Park Development Funding at a Critical Juncture

Councilmember Jane Brunner hosts a community meeting January 22nd to recommend community adoption of the overall plan for the Rockridge-Temescal Greenbelt. Development of the park is expected to occur in two phases. Phase One already received funding through Measure I city funds and Alameda County creek restoration funds. On January 9th, Oakland City Council will review and decide upon the allocation of Prop 12 state park bonds, for which Phase Two is a candidate. This is our best chance to get the both construction phases funded and underway at once, so contact your council members today to show your support! Back to top

1/15/01, OT, Council backs $450k for Rockridge park

Oakland City Council members voted to apply $450,000 from voter-approved parks and recreation bond funds towards the Rockridge-Temescal Greenbelt. The bond money means the park can now be built all at once rather than stretching the development out in two phases. Local councilmember Jane Brunner lead the drive to get the money for the park. Back to top

1/26/01, MC, Greenbelt construction funds divided up

The Rockridge community approved Phase I of the Rockridge Greenbelt project at an open meeting sponsored by councilmember Jane Brunner on Monday night. $360,000 of Measure I funds to restore parks and creeks will be used to fund Phase I construction. The group divided up the funds as follows: $250,000 for landscaping and surfacing Clifton Corridor; $90,000 for landscaping of Redondo Park and $20,000 for a play area on the Redondo site. Back to top

2/3/01, RN, FROG helps Greenbelt park "leap" toward completion

On January 9th, City Council voted $450,000 Prop 12 funds towards Phase Two of the Rockridge-Temescal Greenbelt. On January 22nd, the community approved the conceptual plans for the park. The group placed top priority on developing the Clifton Corridor and Redondo area and on getting Robert Leathers & Associates involved to design play structures for both spaces. Back to top

2/3/01, RN, Community Funding Goal for the new park within Reach

FROG is working hard to raise the targeted $75,000 in community funds needed to complete the Greenbelt. As of January 15th, FROG had raised a total of $35,850 after expenses. The fund drive still has halfway to go to meet the goal. Please consider a donation and remember that your company may offer a matching gift which can double the impact of your generosity! Gifts of $250 or more will be permanently recognized through the inclusion of your name on the main park plaque. Back to top

3/3/01, RN, Do your kids dream? They can help design the Greenbelt play structures!

Mark your calendars for March 18 and March 22. That is when Robert Leathers & Associates arrive to facilitate the design of children's play structures for the new Rockridge-Temescal Greenbelt. On March 22, an architect from the design firm will interview student at several local schools to get their ideas. All Rockridge & Temescal children are invited to come to a drop-in design session which FROG will facilitate at the Rockridge Public Library on Sunday, March 18th, 1-4pm, in advance of Design Day. The Robert Leathers architect will incorporate drawings and ideas from the drop-in library session and the local schools into the playground designs which will be presented to the community on the evening of Design Day, at Chabot Elementary School auditorium. Back to top

3/25/01, OT, Fun experts (children) help park designers

Dean scribbled notes and made sketches on a yellow legal pad during a morning surveying fun experts at Chabot, Peralta, Emerson and St. Pauls' schools on Thursday, March 22nd. Dean is an architect with Robert Leathers, the firm enlisted to design two official children's play areas for the new Greenbelt. The "experts" are the children, who seemed unanimous in wanting an elevated fortress of a play house, complete with a slide and swings. Dean spent the afternoon incorporating their ideas into the play area designs, which were presented to all interested parties at a public meeting in the Chabot auditorium that night. The playgrounds are to be built during October. Construction of the playgrounds will be a labor of love, with labor, materials and tools provided by people from the community. Back to top

3/27/01, MC, Temescal and Rockridge Children design future playgrounds

Architecture is not normally on the minds of (young) children, but when it comes to designing playgrounds – that's a different story. March 22nd, FROG representatives and John Dean, an architect from a New York design firm, dropped in on half a dozen schools and met almost 800 kids that day. Dean used the information from the children to put together a semi-detailed overview of the two playgrounds. That evening, the design was presented at Chabot Elementary School. The project is expected to be done in late October. FROG is hoping to get 600 to 800 volunteers to help build the project. Back to top

4/7/01, RN, FROG Design Day has everyone hopping!

Design Day, March 22, was filled with fun and excitement. It started in the morning, with over 800 kids participating in the design sessions at Chabot, Peralta, St. Paul's, Park Day, Emerson and North Oakland Charter Schools. It culminated at a community meeting that evening where local children produced a play "Harry Potter and the Playground Challenge." Then, John Dean, the representative of the playground design firm Robert Leathers & Associates, unveiled the designs for our two playgrounds and had the audience clamoring to volunteer for the community build of these play structures which is slated for the fall. Back to top

5/3/01, RN, Interview with the Fun Experts

Rockridge News journalist interviews three of the 800+ children who participated in the playground design sessions which took place on March 22nd with John Dean, representative from the Leathers & Associates design firm. The three kids took time out to explain their playground drawings and tell us what it meant to participate in the process. Haley, age 8, drew a big fort with a suspension bridge and two ways to get down - a curly slide and a fireman's pole. She says she wants the Greenbelt to be a "good park," so she included a trash can, water fountain and benches. Gaelen, age 6, is pleased that Robert Leathers adopted his idea of a straight slide and his friend Isabella's idea of a curly slide. He thinks "it is really cool to see my idea on the map!" Madeliene, age 10, believes that it is an "important thing that the kids got to decide what they wanted in the new playgrounds." Won't you help make these kids' dreams a reality? Show your support with a donation or lend a hand at the community build of the new playgrounds, October 3rd-14th. To contribute time or money, visit FROG's new website www.frogpark.org or contact Eileen Fitz-Faulkner at 420-1375. Back to top

6/01/01, EBM, Oakland Parents Working on Major Gift to Local Kids

Rockridge and Temescal children are looking forward to October, when they receive a special gift from the community - two new playgrounds. Like Aquatic Park in Berkeley, these playgrounds will be built entirely by volunteers. In January, councilmember Jane Brunner hosted a meeting at which the community voted in favor of the community-built playgrounds. In March, children from six local schools participated in a Design Day to help develop the playground plans. Local parents and other community members are already busy planning for the October 3rd-14th build. Some $45,000 has been raised so far in community donations. Even some College Avenue merchants are joining the cause - Rockridge Kids has devoted an entire window to a park display and Rockridge Cafe will host an art exhibit of the kids' playground drawings from July11th through the end of August. Back to top

6/02/01, RN, Greenbelt Park FROGs Seek Rockridge Business Support

A generous $5,000 gift from the Wilson Family of Market Hall has helped to kick off FROG's new campaign to raise funds from local merchants. Having already raised $55,000 primarily from individuals (and a $10,000 RCPC match) FROG hopes donations from Rockridge and Temescal businesses will enable it to surpass the $75,000 goal it set to supplement public funding for the new Greenbelt and its two playgrounds.Back to top

7/07/01, RN, FROG Kids' Art Show at Rockridge Cafe

Rockridge Cafe is mounting a show of 20 pieces of art created by Rockridge children which served as inspiration for the design of the Greenbelt park playgrounds at Hardy Park and Redondo. Bill Chung, Rockride Cafe owner, says: "I think it's wonderful what Friends of the Rockridge Greenbelt (FROG) is doing for the community. We hope many folks come to see the show." The FROG Kid's Art Show starts July 11.Back to top

8/10/01, MC, Friends getting together for The Big Build

They're calling it The Big Build, and they're mustering forces to gear up for what they're comparing to an old-fashioned barn raising. The group, Friends of the Rockridge Greenbelt, known simply as FROG, is coordinating the construction of new play structures to be built at Hardy and Redondo parks, each situated at opposite ends of the Rockridge-Temescal Greenbelt. Funds, volunteers, tools, childcare and food for the community-driven project are main topics for a project set to begin Oct 3. On Tuesday, August 7, at the Rockridge Public Library, about 30 FROG members gathered [for Organization Day] to discuss the Greenbelt. With about eight weeks before construcion begins, the push to get the pieces in place early was stressed at the meeting. The campaign to get volunteers was considered the most crucial aspect of the operation. Back to top

9/01/01, RN, FROG Greenbelt Party and Groundbreaking Set for September 9

District 1 Councilwoman Jane Brunner will turn the first shovelful of earth at the Friends of the Greenbelt (FROG) kickoff party in Hardy Park on Sunday, September 9, from 12-3pm. Formal groundbreaking will take place at 1pm, with Brunner joined by other dignitaries, including Mayor Jerry Brown (tentative), Friends of Oakland Parks and Recreation Board President David Stein, Parks and Rec Director Harry Edwards and FROG Chair Steve Costa. Residents are invited to bring their shovels and join in this historic groundbreaking event. Back to top

9/9/01, OT, Volunteers breaking ground for new park

Two new playgrounds in Rockridge, Temescal, subtitle. Now that the dirt is ready to be thrown around, it's party time. It began with a need for a place for children to play. Now, volunteers who fought for a park in the Rockridge and Temescal neighborhoods will finally get down and break ground. [Today's party] will be a carnival atmosphere, with drum circles, an inflatable jumping room, a frog toss contest, face painting and music. For $25, visitors can paint tiles to adorn the play structures. Jerry Brown and volunteers will speak at 1pm. Councilmember Jane Brunner says, "This is a long-overdue addition to the neighborhood. It's going to be a park that's not only good for toddlers and children but, because it's a greenbelt, it's going to be used by everyone." Back to top

9/11/01, MC, FROG hops to it - project is under way

It finally happened. After four long years, ground was finally broken last Sunday at Hardy Park where the first of two new community playgrounds is to be constructed in the high-density neighborhoods of Rockridge and Temescal. Mayor Jerry Brown and City Councilwoman Jane Brunner were on hand when about 100 neighbors gathered on Sept. 9 to celebrate the culmination of a goal to create a linked green space through the neighborhoods. The spirits of the crowd were bolstered by the announcements of Brunner's gift of $125,000 and Dreyer's gift of $15,000. Mayor Jerry Brown said, "One thing's for sure, you don't need a mayor. Go for it!" Back to top

5/04/02, RN, City Fetes Frogpark Builders

Frogpark volutneers were feted at City Hall, treated to a catered reception and then ushered before the City Council, where Jane Brunner and the rest of the members congratulated FROG Steering Committee and the Rockridge and Temescal neighbors. FROG was presented with a resolution issued by City Council recognizing its hard work and success with the playground build. Back to top

6/08/02, RN, Rockridge Area Garners Seven Silver Stroller Awards (Including Frogpark)

Raising children is hard work, but some local Rockridge businesses and public institutions help make it a little easier. In their recent Silver Stroller Award poll, members of Neighborhood Parents Network chose to honor seven Rockridge resources as key players. The results showed that the Rockridge district is clearly a supportive neighborhood for parents of young children:
Best Neighborhood Park
FROG Park Playground, Hardy Woods, Hudson at Claremont & Redondo Grove, Clarke at Redondo.Back to top

3/08/03, RN, Frogpark Coordinator Bids Farewell to Her Legacy

When her son Gaelen was two years old, Eileen Fitz-Faulkner began looking around for neighborhood playgrounds. "I really felt passionate about children being challenged by different structures in different places, having something unique to where they live." Living in Rockridge, Eileen soon became aware of a groundswell of interest in a neighborhood park. Before she knew it, Eilen found herself at the center of the action. In the process, she learned something about community involvement. "You don't have to know everything, just taking on a little piece moves the project along." There were also rewards, "Everywhere I went, stores, restaurants, I knew people and they knew me. It made Rockridge seem like a small town." Recent, Eileen and her family moved to Orinda. "I have moved away, but that park is always going to be there, a treausure for the community. I've left it in a lot of loving hands.".Back to top