Workgroups
A number of focused workgroups convene regularly to advance key topics related to park equity in Richmond.
Funding
Purpose: Recommend sustainable, equitable funding sources for operations and maintenance for parks in Richmond. Support implementation of roadmap to secure funding.
Participating Organizations: City of Richmond, County Supervisor John Gioia’s Office, East Bay Regional Park District, Hellman Foundation, PlaceWorks, Pogo Park, Rising Juntos, Trust for Public Land, Iron Triangle Neighborhood Council, Urban Tilth, YES Nature to Neighborhoods
Year 1 Progress: The workgroup set a goal of assessing feasibility and recommending a funding approach and roadmap to sustainable funding for parks and recreation in Richmond. The Funding workgroup reviewed possible public financing options outlined in Trust for Public Land’s Public Finance Feasibility Study. The workgroup vetted a proposal from the Trust for Public Land to further explore and guide decision making on funding resources.
Evaluation
Purpose: Identify meaningful evaluation for RichPEP activities. Plan and conduct evaluation of the impact of RichPEP.
Participating Organizations: Contra Costa Health Services, East Bay Regional Park District, FIERCE Advocates/Black Village Network, Healthy and Active Before 5, PlaceWorks, Trust for Public Land, Urban Tilth, Rich City Rides, City of Richmond
Year 1 Progress: The workgroup synthesized common goals across RichPEP projects and discussed the types of outcomes (population-level and systems indicators) that could be used to measure RichPEP’s impact. The group met with Possibility Lab to discuss options for evaluation support for RichPEP.
Communications and Media
Purpose: Recommend resources/assets, strategies, and guidelines for media and communications for RichPEP and support implementation and distribution.
Participating Organizations: County Supervisor John Gioia’s Office, East Bay Regional Park District, Hellman Foundation, Rich City Rides, Trust for Public Land, Urban Tilth, Pogo Park
Year 1 Progress: The group set a goal of building broad public support for parks and recreation in Richmond, including an understanding of current conditions, active efforts for improvements, and opportunities for change such as funding measures. The workgroup developed slogans and hashtags for RichPEP and drafted communications guidelines for RichPEP that could be shared with the collective. The group also iterated on messaging that the collaborative could use to be most effective. They worked on developing a storyboard of RichPEP’s origin story and
brainstormed a social media strategy and creative ideas.
Park Standards
Purpose: Define maintenance standards for parks, and support the City’s progress toward meeting the standards.
Participating Organizations: City of Richmond, East Bay Regional Park District, PlaceWorks, Rich City Rides, Rising Juntos, Trust for Public Land, Urban Tilth, YES Nature to Neighborhoods
Year 1 Progress: The group set a goal of engaging stakeholders to develop park standards. The workgroup discussed the role of the Park Master Plan (2010), and noted the need to update the Park Master Plan with information not formally included, such as the Park Assessment Report completed in 2019 by First5 Contra Costa. The group worked identified the need for a stronger accountability mechanism to ensure recommendations in the Park Master Plan happen and develop new standards for parks. Discussions in workgroup meetings included: establishing parks maintenance standards, updating the Parks Master Plan to include the 2019 Parks Assessment, identifying funding options, keeping asset information up-do-date, having a plan for upgrades and improvements, and looking at current available options to support maintenance and identify success areas.
Nicholl Park
Purpose: Coordinate activities and community involvement at Nicholl Park and recommend next steps in park improvement and community involvement.
Participating Organizations: City of Richmond, Contra Costa Health Services, East Bay Regional Park District, Healthy and Active Before 5, Rich City Rides, Rising Juntos, Trust for Public Land, YES Nature to Neighborhoods
Year 1 Progress: The group met throughout the year to plan and coordinate projects at Nicholl Park.
MLK Community Center and Park
Purpose: Coordinate planning activities and community engagement for the design processes for the to-be-rebuilt community center and to-be-renovated park.
Participating Organizations: City of Richmond, County Supervisor John Gioia’s Office, East Bay Regional Park District, Rich City Rides, Trust for Public Land, PlaceWorks, Pogo Park
Year 1 Progress: The group focused on launching and coordinating the Park and Community Center design processes, and was a resource for community engagement planning and promotion.
Richmond Greenway
Purpose: Coordinate activities and community involvement along the Richmond Greenway. Identify and recommend next steps in park improvement and community involvement.
Participating Organizations: City of Richmond, Contra Costa Health Services, East Bay Regional Park District, FIERCE Advocates/Black Village Network, Rich City Rides, Trust for Public Land, Urban Tilth, APEN, Pogo Park
Year 1 Progress: The group merged with the existing Friends of the Richmond Greenway (FORG) group and set goals for activating and improving conditions on the Greenway. They invited neighbors to attend group meetings. The group contributed to planning and coordinating for the large annual MLK Day celebration on the Greenway.
Lucas Park
Purpose: Coordinate activities and community involvement at Lucas Park and recommend next steps in park improvement and community involvement.
Participating Organizations: City of Richmond, Contra Costa Health Services, East Bay Regional Park District, Rich City Rides, Trust for Public Land, Urban Tilth
Year 1 Progress: The workgroup met to support initiation of activities to involve the community at the park and develop a Master Plan.
Humphrey Playlot
Purpose: Coordinate activities and community involvement at Humphrey Playlot and recommend next steps in park improvement and community involvement.
Participating Organizations: City of Richmond, Contra Costa Health Services, East Bay Regional Park District, FIERCE Advocates/Black Village Network, Rich City Rides, Trust for Public Land
Year 1 Progress: The group hosted a community event featuring face painting and chalk art which had strong turnout and enthusiastic participation from local families and children. They hosted a National Children’s Day Event, appointed local park ambassadors, and established bi-weekly community meetings.
