14 Jan
This weekend, some good folks from Our City Forest will come out to visit some of the beautiful California native plant landscaping projects that Pat Pizzo designed and led volunteers to build including along Capitancillos Dr. in the Oak Canyon neighborhood and the 5 Islands Project in Jeffrey Fontana Park. Don’t be alarmed if you see them snipping away at the plants. They will be collecting cuttings to root and grow in their 501(c)3 non-profit nursery for the benefit of all!
14 Oct
| On November 7th, 2020 from 9AM – 8PM, Our City Forest will be hosting the Breathe Easy! Walk-a-thon, a social distancing event! Let us all walk for the trees and appreciate what the trees provide for us by enjoying the trees outside! Biking is welcomed and any other form of activity as long as you and any other friends and family you bring are outside for the trees! Participants in our Breathe Easy! Walk-a-thon are encouraged to send photos with trees and post them on social media using #walkfortrees or #bikefortrees. Anyone who participates is welcome to contribute any amount of money for Our City Forest’s mission of creating a greener and healthier space throughout Silicon Valley! We will also be holding a raffle during this event for participants! How it works to participate in our raffle for a succulent garden prize: 1. Fill in our participation form below 2. Donate $25+ for our Breathe Easy! T-shirt (donate once participation form has been completed) 3. Take a selfie with any tree from your walk anywhere and post it on Facebook, Instagram, and/or Twitter using the hashtag #walkfortrees or #bikefortrees and tag Our City Forest On November 13th, we will announce the winner of our succulent garden prize through our social media and contact the winner! To sign up for our event now, please fill out our participation form listed below: |
8 Jan
SCCAOR Sept 2014 work-party
Patrick Pizzo, a long time member and guiding light of the Martin-Fontana Parks Association passed away on the 2nd of January 2020 at the age of 75. If you look around our two parks, you will see many examples of his handy work. Pat was the brains & brawn behind all the native plant islands located in Jeffrey Fontana Park. His most extensive creation was the 5 Islands Project near Meridian Ave.
Here is a link to a 2017 article on Pat and his many accomplishments by Our City Forest: http://www.ourcityforest.org/blog/2017/1/4/the-remarkable-pat-pizzo?fbclid=IwAR0FxrzleTYiHR_K8EacOjotqX71Vqwz0FL73QNzDkcOXa7bj6GjCKz1pU8
9 Jan
On December 16th & January 6th., Our City Forest (OCF) held “Planting Parties” and a total of 55 new trees were planted in our Jeffrey Fontana & TJ Martin parks. The new trees were planted in select locations and in areas where dead or dying trees needed to be replaced. The professional staff of Our City Forest managed the program and provided direction and tools.
From left to right are MFPA Vice-President Richard Zahner, MFPA President Rod Carpenter, District 10 Councilmember Johnny Khamis, and OCF Planting Manager Rob Castaneda
These plantings were a major “once in a decade” opportunity and the Martin Fontana Parks Association Board of Directors wants to give a big “Thank You” to the OCF staff, MFPA members, and all the other volunteers who came out and helped make it a success.
This program was initiated by PG&E early in 2017 when they asked the MFPA Board to partner with them to find locations for new trees to replace the ones they were required to remove along Almaden Expressway. A team of MFPA members created a ‘Planting Plan’ for consideration of the City Park Staff and PG&E. The PG&E planting guidelines that limit the mature tree height for any trees under the lines were taken in to account during the negotiations. This avoids any possible contact with the lines and costly annual tree trimming.
Our plan was adopted in principle by PG&E and used in negotiations with the City and County. PG&E finished the removal of over 150 trees along Alamaden Expressway in late summer and then provided funding to OCF to plant replacements in our parks. MFPA finalized the Planting Plan locations and the OCF Arborist coordinated tree selection with the City and PG&E.
From left to right are District 10 Councilmember Johnny Khamis, MFPA Project Manager Dave Poeschel, OCF rep, Brian O’Neill, and two others.
The trees were of the 15-gallon size from the OCF nursery. The City will provide water for a three-year program to assure survival of these young trees and OCF will manage the watering. Our continuing responsibility will be to support the OCF watering and report problems, if and when they occur.
We hope you, your children, and future neighbors, will enjoy all the new trees and a have an attractive parks for decades.
27 Nov
Our City Forest demonstrates how it’s done
The following is a San Jose Mercury News article by Julia Baum | jbaum@bayareanewsgroup.com | Bay Area News Group on
“The trees will replace those removed earlier this year under Pacific Gas and Electric Company’s gas pipeline safety program.”
“Workers from Our City Forest and the Martin-Fontana Parks Association will provide the new trees during two planting parties at the parks, one on Dec. 16 and the other on Jan. 6. Another couple dozen trees will be planted in the Shadow Brook neighborhood by the local neighborhood association with help from Our City Forest on Dec. 2, according to Councilman Johnny Khamis.”
To read the rest of the story go to Tree Planting.
According to Martin-Fontana Parks Association Director, Richard Zahner, the City’s Parks, Recreation, & Neighborhood Services has committed to provide the water needed to establish the 55 trees. Our City Forest has committed to watering the trees and providing care such as trimming and shaping to assure their survival through the first three years. At that time the trees should be established and should require no more than the routine care provided by PRNS. In practice the first year will the most demanding, requiring 15 gallons per week.
‘Tree Gator’, a type of plastic water bag
A ‘Tree Gator’, a type of plastic water bag, may be used to control and concentrate the water where it is most beneficial. Watering will be incrementally reduced over the second and third years to promote healthy roots and sustainable growth.
Richard also serves as the Park Planning and Improvement Chairperson for MFPA.
12 Aug
One of 23 trees cut at their base hangs from its support along Meridian Avenue in San Jose, Calif., Monday morning, July 18, 2016. The Chinese Fringe Trees were apparently targeted late last week. (Karl Mondon/Bay Area News Group)
In a Friday’s Mecury News article:
“In what Berry calls the worst vandalism she’s ever seen, someone has targeted the trees along Meridian Avenue and Dry Creek Road by sawing off their trunks in the middle of the night. Berry said it appears the vandals used an electric saw to chop up more than a quarter mile strip of trees.”
To read the complete article click here.
22 Jun
7 Mar
4 Feb
Our evaluation team consisting of Pier Maggiani and Patrick Pizzo, have walked the park and marked all the trees that need to be trimmed, or removed because they are dead or diseased. Martin-Fontana Parks Association (MFPA ) annually shares the cost with the City’s Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Services (PRNS) by using the City contractor to work on our trees. Soon tree crews will be at work to complete the trimming/removal for this winter. Trees will be evaluated again after nesting season is completed.
Stressed Trees
Pier and Patrick have also identified 43 trees as severely stressed by our last three years of drought. MFPA has contracted to pay Our City Forest (OCF) $15 per tree for mulching services. OCF will clear the area around each tree and heavily mulch the tree in an effort to capture and retain as much water as possible. This will be completed in February.
MARTIN-FONTANA PARKS ASSOCIATION 