Benicians Adopting Benicia helps spruce-up Alvarez 9th Street Park.
Using wheelbarrows, shovels, rakes and lots of very early morning determination, more than 30 volunteers faced the low morning temperature and coastal fog last Saturday July24 to undertake a sizable spruce-up of Benicia’s Alvarez Park at W 9th Street.
The volunteer event was sponsored by Benicians Adopting Benicia (BAB) which is part of the newly formed Benicia Community Foundation (BCF) and received significant support from the City’s Parks and Community Services Department.
“The City estimates our volunteers spread between 40 and 60 yards of much needed mulch around the park”, said BCF Vice Chair Kristine Passalacqua. “The City provided the mulch that was then spread across the park by the volunteers including City Council member Lionel Largaespada,” she added.
In addition to the materials the City provided, Bruce Adams, owner of Bottom of the Fifth Bar and Restaurant, donated lunch for all participants.
BCF Board Member Kathy Smith said, “ it was a wonderful community turnout. Thank you for your hard work it was deeply appreciated. Plus, we also lucked out from the weather in keeping us cool.”
According to Terry Scott, BCF Executive Director, “The BAB is doing an incredible job of collaborating with the City to provide volunteer resources to continue its mission of beautifying our community. “
”BAB was created to bring community volunteers together to assist in the care, maintenance, and beautification of our many city parks, open spaces and other sites,”said Ms. Passalacqua.
BCF’s Chair David Batchelor added that “I want to thank our local volunteers for helping us this last weekend. We are so grateful for supporting our projects and helping to make our community a better place to live, work and play!!”
“BAB is currently developing several new community improvement projects and we will be letting the community know when and how they can volunteer to help make Benicia a better place,” noted Ms. Passalacqua.
BAB will soon announce upcoming events on this website.
Benicians Adopting Benicia is proud to announce it completed its latest collaboration with the City of Benicia. We tackled cleaning up and spreading mulch at this wonderful City Park.
Date: July 24th COMPLETED
Time: 7:30 am – approx. 11:00am
Where: 9th Street Park
What is the project: Spreading bark
What to wear: Sturdy closed-toed shoes, and you may want to bring a hat and sunglasses
You will receive a new free BCF/BAB T-shirt (while supplies last)
What to bring: Good gardening gloves, rack, pitchfork
What not to bring: Power tools of any kind
What to expect: We will start work at 7:30 am (so we can “beat the heat”). Please arrive by 7:15 am to check in and receive your new BCF/BAB T-shirt. You will need to sign a release form from the City of Benicia and BCF.
Copies of the release forms will be available to sign at check-in.
Bottle water will be provided. We will have representatives from the City to assist and direct us and the bark will already be pilled in the areas that need filling in. All we will need to do is spread the bark and make 9th Street Park look wonderful again.
Lunch will be provided, and restrooms will be available.
If you are a student and need community volunteer hours, we will be able to sign your form. Please be sure to advise us when you arrive.
Thank you for caring about our wonderful City and helping to make a difference.