Pogo Park’s process for bringing once-abandoned city parks to life – by hiring, training, and empowering community residents to make the changes themselves – is an engine of community development.
We have been successful in a neighborhood where literally every other attempt at revitalization has failed. Why? Because we build from the inside-out. We hire and train community residents to envision how parks in their neighborhood can improve – and then empower the community to use their own hands to make the changes themselves. In this way, the development of a park is a vehicle for the development of the entire community.
Economic Impact of Pogo Park’s Work in Iron Triangle (2007-Present)
- Living-Wage Jobs Created: 98
- Training Hours for Residents: 77,238
- Wages Paid to Residents: $5.2 million
- Funds Paid to Richmond Businesses: $4 million
- Total Raised for the Iron Triangle: $109.5 million
To design, build, and maintain our parks, Pogo Park has formed long-term partnerships with three Iron Triangle businesses: Scientific Art Studio (SAS), Ferrous Studios, and Lawrence Construction Inc. (LCI).
Scientific Art Studio (SAS) is a renowned custom fabrication and art studio in the San Francisco Bay Area, known for creating the giant mitt at the San Francisco Giants ballpark. Based in the Iron Triangle, SAS’s team of artists, designers, and builders spent the last two decades creating thrilling, cutting-edge children’s play spaces for the San Francisco Zoo, Oakland Zoo, Oshman Family Jewish Community Center, and Bay Area Discovery Museum.
Ferrous Studios (FS) is an artisanal design and metal fabrication studio in a historic 20,000-square-foot building across from Harbour-8 Park. It is led by artist, sculptor, and founder Kyle Reicher.
Lawrence Construction Inc. (LCI) is a licensed general contractor with 50 years of experience. Based in a historic building next to Harbour-8 Park, LCI is managing the construction of Harbour Hall.
All three businesses fully support Pogo Park’s “Build From the Inside/Out” process. For over a decade, they have provided a sheltered and supportive environment where members of Pogo Park’s CDT develop critical work skills and learn how to design and build parks in their own neighborhood.
Pogo Park, SAS, FS, and LCI use the proven, old-world “Apprentice/Master Builder” model to train Pogo Park’s CDT. Pogo Park’s CDT (Apprentices) work alongside skilled artisans (Master Builders from SAS, FS, and LCI), learning through hands-on experience in real projects to rebuild Elm Playlot, Yellow Brick Road®, and Harbour-8 Park.
While working at a local job and earning a living wage, CDT members uncover their own talents and gain valuable and transferable skills such as woodworking, metalworking, sculpting, blueprint reading, casting, modeling, and more.
Pogo Park’s work is pioneering new thinking for how to reimagine and rebuild urban public spaces in ways that more deeply and authentically engage local residents.
