May 25, 2014
Big article in today’s San Francisco Chronicle about Pogo Park. Click here to read it.
Latest News
May 22, 2014
Today, Google announced that after reviewing nearly 1,000 applications for their Bay Area Impact Challenge, they have selected Pogo Park as a top 10 finalist. They recognized the importance of our work: to develop innovative, imaginative play spaces in Richmond’s Iron Triangle, one of California’s toughest neighborhoods.
Google has awarded Pogo Park with $250,000 for finishing in the top 10, which will help us greatly in our efforts to transform Richmond. Thank you Google!
Click here for Google’s promotional video on Pogo Park.
Click here for highlights from our resident team’s Google campaign.
May 15, 2014
Congressman George Miller stopped by Pogo Park’s Elm Playlot today, which is nearing completion after years of envisioning, planning, and building. He awarded Pogo Park, and Executive Director Toody Maher with Certificates of Congressional Recognition for the profound impact Pogo Park has made on Richmond. Click here for pictures from his visit.
May 12, 2014
Elm Playlot’s new fence is up! Our staff built it by hand, carving it with a mixture of faces from the neighborhood, waves, and lettering; no two sections are the same. “We wanted to make sure that the fence was alive, and as vibrant as the park and the surrounding community,” said Jose Juan of Pogo Park, the fence’s lead architect. Click here for pictures of the park’s newest addition.
April 15, 2014
The Huffington Post published a story today on Pogo Park. Click here to check it out!
April 8, 2014
Construction at Elm Playlot is coming along quickly, with the recent completion of its new community center and Global Village, and installation of its new disc swings, zip line, trike path, and more. Click here for pictures of Elm’s new equipment.
Community residents built the Global Village by hand, with training provided by Pogo Park and Scientific Art Studios. Click here for more action shots of the build process.
April 4, 2014
Click here to see the Richmond Standard’s article on Pogo Park’s restoration of 17 ash trees adjacent to the Richmond Greenway.
February 27, 2014
In 2009, youth from Richmond’s Iron Triangle neighborhood conceptualized the Yellow Brick Road project. The plan was to identify the key community assets of the Iron Triangle (schools, parks, community centers, BART, etc.) and then stencil yellow bricks across the streets and sidewalks that link these assets together. The resulting Yellow Brick Road would be maintained and protected by the community, providing a network of safe, green, and clean walking routes.
Recognizing the promise of this vision, Caltrans awarded a planning grant to the City of Richmond in partnership with Pogo Park and the Local Government Commission. Starting with a dedicated group of volunteer residents of different ages and backgrounds, we’re working together to get the Yellow Brick Road off the ground. The Caltrans grant has also enabled us to add transportation planning and design experts from Fehr and Peers to help us with design tools and strategies to improve safety and walkability.
Last week, Pogo Park staff and community volunteers kicked off the project’s identification phase. Each day, these residents walked the Iron Triangle to pinpoint key community assets, determine the best routes for the Yellow Brick Road, and record any barriers that prevent walkability.
Click here for more pictures of Yellow Brick Road’s identification phase.
February 6, 2014
Yesterday, we brought in Peter Rudy of Big Chief Tree and his team of Mayan “tree whisperers” to prune and aerate the “Old Growth Forest,” Elm Playlot’s five large sycamore trees. Their work ensured that our trees would be nourished and ready for the impending installation of the zip line, wall ball, and other heavy equipment.
Click here for more pictures of the Old Growth Forest’s aeration.
January 20th, 2014
On Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Friends of the Richmond Greenway (FORG), a collaboration of over 20 community-based organizations in Richmond that includes Pogo Park, hosted an MLK Day of Service on the Richmond Greenway. From 9-2, the Greenway was abuzz with volunteer projects, healthy food, lively music, a children’s zone, and an MLK remembrance ceremony. 627 volunteers showed up to celebrate Dr. King’s legacy by dedicating their time to help develop the Greenway into a safe, green, and clean public space to better serve children and the local community.
Click here for more pictures from MLK day.
