Date: October 6 & 7, 2007

Agency Partner: City of Oakland

This community trail work-party, weekend celebration, and camp out was held October 6 & 7, 2007 in Joaquin Miller Park. The park contains one of the only Urban Second Growth Redwood Groves in existence and has miles of multi-use natural, scenic trails. Volunteers joined us starting Friday night for camping and an evening at Chabot Space and Science center, a premiere observatory and Smithsonian affiliated museum. Saturday, after a hard days work, we enjoyed a tasty dinner and a great nights sleep. Sundays we had an extra special hot breakfast and had the great satisfaction of finishing up the project.

This project was fun and rewarding!

About the Park: Joaquin Miller Park attracts a wide range of users who enjoy the park for picnics, special events, the new off-leash dog park, public performances in the circa 1935 Woodminster Amphitheater, and miles of scenic trails. Joaquin Miller Park is named for one of the late 19th century’s more colorful figures. Self-proclaimed “Poet of the Sierras” Joaquin Miller was a pony-express rider, lawyer, judge, teacher, gold prospector, nomad, author, and one of California’s first environmentalists.

About the Project: Volunteers worked oncreating two new trail sections to modify the Sequoia Bay View Trail/Chaparral Trail intersection and to modify the Big Trees Trail/Sequoia Bay View Trail intersection. Both of these intersections had very limited lines of sight and were dangerous for users. We will also close the hazardous intersections. In addition, we restored the Sunset Trail to its original width and improved the drainage along the trail. Lastly, we performed major repair work on the Chaparral trail, removing French Broom (an invasive plant) and improving trail bed and drainage over long sections of this trail. There was a broad variety of types of work, with plenty to do for both those who were looking for a strenuous outing and those interested in a less taxing day helping on the trails. 

The Joaquin Miller Park Project Fact Sheet (PDF) contains details about the weekend. We asked volunteers to arrive with your waiver signed.All this and more is in the Project Fact Sheet.

Camping:
Camping was open to volunteers both Friday and Saturday nights.

Volunteering Options: We encourage you to come for the weekend, although you can volunteer for one day if you can't make the entire weekend. Note: we need more volunteers on Sunday, since several large groups are schedule to attend on Saturday.

Food and Drinks: All food from Saturday breakfast thru Sunday lunch is provided, including cold soft drinks and beer after the trail work on Saturday, followed by dinner and entertainment on Saturday night.

Important Note : If you or your friends plan to attend but have not formally registered, please remind them to do so - it helps us have the right amount of food on hand.

Directions: Google map: JM Park Trail Event Follow the signs to Horse Arena/ Chabot Space and Science Center and look for signs.

Project Schedule

Friday
While the project officially starts on Saturday morning, we invite you to camp Friday night. You are on your own for food but it makes the early start easier. Plus, it’s a fun time to come see and enjoy the park and get settled-in for the weekend adventure. Starting after 5 pm a project team member will be available for check-in. A limited number of free tickets are available for Chabot Space and Science Center.

Saturday
6:30 - 8:00 AM Breakfast, lunch prep. and registration
Please arrive by 7:30
8:00 – 8:30 AM Crew Assignments
12:00 - 12:30 PM Lunch break
4:00 PM Stop work and return to campsite
5:30 Snacks, beer, and cold drinks
6:00 - 7:30 PM Supper and entertainment

Sunday
6:30 - 8:00 AM Breakfast, lunch prep. and registration
Please arrive by 7:30
8:00 – 8:30 AM Crew Assignments
1:00 - 1:30 PM Lunch break, gather tools and
return to campsite
1:30 - 2:00 PM Load tools
3:00 PM Leave campsite for home

Post Project Opportunity
Free concert – Sunday Afternoon at the Woodminster Amphitheater in Joaquin Miller Park presented by the Office of Parks and Recreation and Councilmember Jean Quan. October 7 - "Gospel: A Joyful Noise" featuring the Allen Temple Baptist Church Men's Choir; KC and Company; and Sunny Hawkins. Performance at 3pm.

Download map of Joaquin Miller Park.

Thank you to our project partners and sponsors:
AirGas
Bay Alarm
Bingham McCutchen
Bicycle Trails Council of the East Bay (BTCEB)
Chabot Space and Science Center
City of Oakland
City of Oakland Public Works Agency
City of Oakland, Office of Parks and Recreation
CM2Hill
Council Member Jean Quan and her staff
ClifBar
East Bay Hills Trails Benefit Equestrian Ride
Friends of Sausal Creek
Horizon Beverage
Horn Murdock Cole
Jones and Stokes
Kaiser Permanente
Keep Oakland Beautiful
MetroMobile Communications
Metropolitan Horsemen's Association
Oakland Rotary Nature Center
PG&E
Port of Redwood City
REI
Safeway
Tecnu
Tilden Wildcat Horsemen's Association
Waste Management

Some related web sites:

Joaquin Miller Park
www.oaklandnet.com/JoaquinMillerPark/home.html

Council Member in the Joaquin Miller Park area www.jeanquan.org/

City of Oakland Public Works Agency www.oaklandpw.com

Chabot Space and Science Center
http://www.chabotspace.org

Bicycle Trails Council East Bay (BTCEB)
http://www.btceb.org/

Sign-up! Join us for this V-O-Cal project
http://vocal.civicore.com