New Park on Peralta Creek

by John Frando

A core team of residents are working on Wisconsin Street and Rettig Avenue to create a native-plant demonstration garden and creek education center from a neglected city-owned patch of pampas grass, fennel, and Himalaya blackberry. Walk by often to see the progress in the coming months as paths, a butterfly garden, handmade signs identifying native plants, a native bunchgrass and wildflower meadow, and other native plants go in. Eventually, a brochure on the creek will be printed to educate residents and students on the background and traditional uses of native plants by indigenous and early California cultures. With the wet season, we are moving into the prime time for our local native flora. In the coming months you will be able to come by and get ideas of using native plants in your own gardens. In December some impressive activities moved the creek project forward. Erik Jorgensen of Redwood Heights Neighborhood Association held a sale of samples from his business, Pangea Imports, with proceeds benefiting the creek project. Thanks to Erik for his generosity and to Denise Davila and Keith Stover for setting up the sale. And thanks to RHNA for an additional generous donation. Karen Paulsell, with Friends of Sausal Creek, made a deal with us early on we could earn plant credits by volunteering Saturdays with tasks around their native plant nursery in Joaquin Miller Park. Karen has also been helping us coordinate work in dealing with the fire department in our creek restoration efforts. Let us know if you can help. The creek is at Rettig Avenue and Wisconsin Street (from 35th Avenue, walk northwest on Wisconsin Street, past Midvale and Norton Avenues to Rettig Ave.), and the project is a Laurel Village and Redwood Heights neighborhood collaboration. Call John at 530-1489.