The San Diego River Park Foundation
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The San Diego River Park Foundation SUMMER 2013 Landmark Legislation Adopted San Diego City Council Approves Master Plan! A Major Milestone for the River Park Foundation... What a day! For more than 12 years, the San Diego River Park Foundation has championed the creation of the River Park system from the mountains to the ocean. And on May 20, 2013, the San Diego City Council unanimously voted to adopt a master plan for 17.5 miles of the San Diego River. 17.5 miles is approximately 1/3 of the entire River. By taking this one vote, the City of San Diego formally acknowledged the significance of the River and the vision of the River Park. The Master Plan provides the tools and legal framework for implementing the River Park vision, resulting in creation of a new regional treasure. As our Executive Director Rob Hutsel said “The plan is bold in its vision, but pragmatic in its implementation representing more than a decade of community dialogue, education and even compromise.” Of course, many people and organizations worked on the plan. Since the River Park Foundation completed the San Diego River Park Conceptual Plan in 2002 with funding from the State Coastal Conservancy and San Diego Foundation and the leadership of many people including former Senator Christine Kehoe and Mayor Dick Murphy, many have worked on the Master Plan. Our special thanks to City Park Planners, initially Jeff Harkness and then Robin Shifflet. Our tremendous thanks to all that participated in the process and to Mayor Bob Filner who supported completing the plan, and ultimately, all City Councilmembers for their kind words and affirmative vote. We did it!!! From left to right, former Mayor Dick Murphy, Rob Hutsel, City Park Planner Robin Shifflet
Transcript of The San Diego River Park Foundation
San Diego River Park Foundation, Fall 2012 Xwww.sandiegoriver.org
The San Diego River Park FoundationSUMMER 2013
Landmark Legislation Adopted San Diego City Council Approves Master Plan!
A Major Milestone for the River Park Foundation...
What a day! For more than 12 years, the San Diego River Park Foundation has championed the creation of the River Park system from the mountains to the ocean. And on May 20, 2013, the San Diego City Council unanimously voted to adopt a master plan for 17.5 miles of the San Diego River. 17.5 miles is approximately 1/3 of the entire River. By taking this one vote, the City of San Diego formally acknowledged the significance of the River and the vision of the River Park.
The Master Plan provides the tools and legal framework for implementing the River Park vision, resulting in creation of a new regional treasure.
As our Executive Director Rob Hutsel said “The plan is bold in its vision, but pragmatic in its implementation representing more than a decade of community dialogue, education and even compromise.” Of course, many people and organizations worked on the plan. Since the River Park Foundation completed the San Diego River Park Conceptual Plan in 2002 with funding from the State Coastal Conservancy and San Diego Foundation and the leadership of many people including former Senator Christine Kehoe and Mayor Dick Murphy, many have worked on the Master Plan. Our special thanks to City Park Planners, initially Jeff Harkness and then Robin Shifflet. Our tremendous thanks to all that participated in the process and to Mayor Bob Filner who supported completing the plan, and ultimately, all City Councilmembers for their kind words and affirmative vote. We did it!!!
From left to right, former Mayor Dick Murphy,
Rob Hutsel, City Park Planner Robin Shifflet
www.sandiegoriver.org2 San Diego River Park Foundation, Summer 2013
Nearly 12 years ago, the River Park Foundation was founded. It was with tremendous gratitude and sense of responsibility that I recently stood before the San Diego City Council asking them to approve the Master Plan for 17.5 miles of the River Park. What a day!
It was humbling to be there on behalf of our 10,000+ supporters and to think back upon our early days those 12 years ago. With great passion and an even bigger idea, we started this journey. Thank you to our members, donors, volunteers, enews recipients, and facebook supporters for the trust you have placed in us.
Today, we launch a 12 week fundraising drive to raise essential funds to continue our mission to create a better future for our historic and inspirational San Diego River. We are faced with incredible opportunity in our 4 core program areas. With the adoption of the City’s Master Plan, we launch the next phase of our mission. I can’t wait!
“River Rob” HutselExecutive Director
Anthony is a third generation Allied Gardens resident, where he and his wife and their two children live. His is current chair of the Navajo Community Planners and has been an advocate and volunteer on water quality and other river issues.
Barbara is a recipient of our Volunteer of the Year Award. As a volunteer since 2001, she brings incredible experience to our board. Barbara and her husband are outdoor enthusiasts. Barbara continues to be one of our most active field volunteers.
Bill is a native San Diegan and has a strong interest in land conservation, outdoor recreation and sustainability. He and his wife live in Poway and enjoy hiking our local trails. He is a Vice President at Qualcomm.
The San Diego River Park Foundation
Board of DirectorsMichael Beck
ChairM. Lea Rudee, Ph.D.
Vice ChairJanie DeCelles
SecretaryPhilip Pryde
TreasurerJo Ann Anderson
Charles V. BerwangerBill DahnkeSam Duran
Joan Embery Alan GrantCary Lowe
Barbara PalanJames Peugh James Ryan
Tom SudberryAnthony Wagner
James Hubbell Emeritus
StaffRob Hutsel
Executive DirectorRobyn Bottomley Development Director
Richard Dhu Program Manager
Jim Platel Project Manager
Elizabeth Hanley Szabo Project Coordinator
Danielle Heckman Volunteer Services Coordinator
Sarah Hutmacher Development & Education Coordinator
Shannon Quigley-Raymond Program CoordinatorShelsea Ochoa
Community & Events AssociateMelissa Sumera
Administrative AssociateDoug Taylor Field Associate
We have three new board members! ...Our Board of Directors are all volunteers. They guide, inspire and provide oversight to our organization. We are really pleased to introduce you to these three fantastic people!
A Message from River Rob
Save the Date
for this year’s
Anniversary Celebration!
September 19, 2013
www.sandiegoriver.org San Diego River Park Foundation, Summer 2013 3
Robyn Bottomley has joined the San Diego River Park Foundation team as our first Development Director! Her primary focus is working with the Board of Directors in securing major gifts for the Discovery Center, increasing membership and business support, and leading brand placement and organizational messaging.
Robyn brings over 15 years of major fundraising experience and marketing. She has served in non-profit staff leadership positions in major gifts, individual giving and operations for organizations such as United Way, La Jolla Playhouse and Junior Achievement.
Born and raised in San Diego, Robyn remembers when Mission Valley was covered with dairy farms and was thrilled when the designs of the Discovery Center were presented to her. She is so proud to be part of an organization that will provide Mission Valley an eco-park, an education center and a community destination for all of San Diego to use now and for generations to come.
This spring, our newest education program came into full bloom as we launched Home 2 Nature with our first group of young participants! The Home 2 Nature Program is designed to engage kids grade K-8 in better understanding the importance of native plants and their role in the River’s ecosystem.
Kids used their small but mighty green thumbs to plant tiny California poppy seeds and lupine seeds, and took them home to wait for them to germinate. Success! After just a few days, tiny sprouts began to muscle through the soil.
Now, the youth volunteers learn the second part of the Home 2 Nature lesson: native plants such as these are critical for restoration efforts along the San Diego River. Kids and their families then are invited to return the seedlings to the gardens and other sites along the river where they will thrive and provide shelter, shade, and food for native birds, bugs and wildlife!
We are very grateful to SDG&E, whose support made this program possible, and to our awesome new education docent volunteers! Stay tuned (and follow us on Facebook) for upcoming event dates!
Staff HighlightIntroducing our Development Director
Home 2 NatureEngaging Kids to Take Part in Restoration
Robyn Bottomley, San Diego River Park Foundation Development Director
Two participants busily planting seeds
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10th Annual River Days Huge Success!1 River, 2 Weekends, 43 Fun-Filled, Family-Oriented Events
Our 10th Annual San Diego River Days was a hit, with more participants and events than ever before! Thanks to the 1,000+ Youth Day of Service volunteers who came out to help create a better future for the San Diego River, and to all of the 6,000+ participants who celebrated with us, on our hikes, rides, tours, or other River Days events!
Thank you to our River Days Sponsors! Kaiser PermanenteThe Metropolitan Water District of Southern CaliforniaSan Diego River ConservancySeaWorld San DiegoSudberry Properties, Inc.Viejas Band of Kumeyaay Indians
Courtesy of Dona Tracy Courtesy of Michelle Lawler Courtesy of Dona Tracy
Courtesy of Bill Grolz
Courtesy of Luis GonzalezCourtesy of Walter O. Koenig
www.sandiegoriver.org San Diego River Park Foundation, Summer 2013 5
Thank you all our wonderful River Days volunteer event leaders, you truly made the events a success!
Thank you to our Youth Day of Service Partners!The Boy Scouts of America San Diego-Imperial CouncilGirl Scouts San DieigoFire Fighters of San DiegoFrancis Parker SchoolKaiser PermanenteKids KorpsLa Jolla ElementaryLPL FinancialMadison Middle SchoolOld Town AcademyOutdoor OutreachPresidio Little LeagueRick EngineeringThe San Diego Center for ChildrenSDG&ETaft Middle SchoolThe Technical Institute for Effective EducationTeen Volunteers in ActionTorrey Pines High SchoolWarren-Walker Charter School
Santee Historical SocietyFriends of Santee’s River ParkI Love A Clean San DiegoFriends of Ruffin CanyonFriends of Buchanan CanyonCity of San Diego Parks & RecreationMission Trails Regional Park FoundationLakeside’s River Park ConservancyTIEEPresidio Little LeagueBlitz Fit NowWalkabout InternationalSan Diego Kite Club
Pacific Photography Society of San DiegoMission Basilica San Diego de AcalaSan Diego County Bicycle CoalitionFriends of the River MouthSave Our Heritage Organisation San Dieguito River Valley ConservancySan Diego Audubon SocietyJulian Film FestivalAllied Climbers of San DiegoAnza Borrrego FoundationVolcan Mountain FoundationSan Diego Fly Fishers
Geocaching InternationalSan Diego County Library - Santee BranchCalifornia Native Plant Society - San Diego ChapterSan Diego Astronomy AssociationFriends of Point Loma Native Plant GardenMission Valley Public LibraryFriends of Famosa SloughWildlife Research Institute San Diego Archaeological Center
Thank you to our River Days Event Hosts!
Courtesy of Dona Tracy
Courtesy of Walter O. Koenig
Courtesy of Dan H.
Courtesy of Dan Morales
www.sandiegoriver.org
Thank you to the more than 150 volunteers who participated in the April River Blitz! During the month of April, teams of volunteers went out and surveyed the River through cities of Santee and San Diego.
Volunteers are led by a trained naturalist as they conduct field surveys and document what they find with GPS units, digital cameras and data sheets. Teams are typically 4 – 8 people and survey for 2 – 3 hours. Data collected includes information on trash, non-native plants, water quality concerns and park health. It is a wealth of information!
The data is used to guide our award-winning volunteer river cleanup programs. We work with landowners and public agencies to address trash found along or in the river. Our goal is to have all identified trash removed within six months.
The results from April’s survey are still being processed but preliminary results show good and bad news. The good news is that of the 364 data points for trash, just 29 of them are associated with stormwater runoff, totaling an estimated 3075 lbs. of trash. The bad news is there are 335 other sites!
So where does the trash come from if it is removed in 6 months? Other sources of debris and trash are litter, dumping and homeless encampments. By volume, by far the largest percentage of trash is associated with homeless encampments. This continues to be a major issue. We work actively with homeless service providers, public safety agencies and others to work toward strategies to reduce the homeless population living in harm’s way of the river’s floodplain. The next River Blitz will be in October. Thank you volunteers for all of your work!
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Spring River BlitzSemi-Annual River Field Survey
Corporate Sponsors
Debris Box
Courtesy of Dave Veit
www.sandiegoriver.org San Diego River Park Foundation, Summer 2013 7
Thank You for Your Support!The San Diego River Park Foundation is deeply grateful for the many individuals, businesses and foundations who have generously supported our efforts. Because of your support, we have been able to make great strides towards the conservation of the San Diego River and the creation of the San Diego River Park system. Thanks to the following for our recently awarded grants:
BD BiosciencesThe Burnett Family Charitable Foundation Inc.County of San Diego Neighborhood Reinvestment Program & Supervisor RobertsThe Heller Foundation of San Diego McKenna Long & Aldridge FoundationMission Hills Garden ClubNew Belgium Brewing Co., Inc.PatagoniaClaude A. and Johann S. Petty FoundationQualcomm FoundationREI San Diego Association of Governments TransNet Environmental Mitigation ProgramSan Diego Kiwanis Club FoundationSan Diego Gas and ElectricUnion Bank Foundation
join the LEGACY SOCIETY a planned gift may be right for you
Your vision, generosity and dedication can have a lasting impact on the conservation, education and recreation programs of the River Park Foundation.
It can be as simple as including the Foundation in your will. If you have already included us, please let us know so you are included as a Legacy Society member.
Robyn Bottomley (619) 297-7380 [email protected] sandiegoriver.org/donate.php
A special thanks to our dedicated 2013 volunteers! During our River Days Volunteer Appreciation BBQ & Hoedown we took the opportunity to thank our amazing volunteers for all the time they’ve donated so far this year, while also enjoying some great food, music, and games. We know their time is valuable and would like to thank the following for their exemplary dedication:
50+ Hrs in 2013 - Matti Asgarian, Chris Brennen, Judy Brennen, Jim Herrington, Bob Forthun, Paul Hormick, Everett Neuman, and Tom Younghusband
75+ Hrs in 2013 - Conrad Brennen and Gary Strawn
100+ Hrs in 2013 - Barbara Palan, Joel Kalmonson, Dave Loveland
CONTACT:PHONE:
EMAIL: WEB:
Please consult your qualified financial advisor before making a gift.
X San Diego River Park Foundation, Fall 2012 www.sandiegoriver.orgThe San Diego River Park FoundationSummer 2013
www.sandiegoriver.org(619) 297-7380
Love El Cap? Help Save this Icon!It is not often that you get to help save an icon. El Cajon Mountain, commonly known as “El Cap,” is one of those very special places. It is home to majestic golden eagles, rare Lakeside ceanothus and other critical species that are at risk. El Cap is also a popular recreation destination and a scenic treasure. Several years ago we set out to conserve this icon. This is the last property on the Face!
$17,500 is needed by June 15th to acquire these 20 acres. Thanks to a supporter, if you are able to donate $2500 or more, you will receive a 1 hour guided helicopter tour for two! Just his way of saying thanks. Whether you can donate $25 or $2500, please join us and help save this icon!
We communicate monthly through our free e-mail newsletter and even more frequently through Facebook and Twitter.
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From the mountains to the ocean, a River Park for all!
“El Cap,” as seen from El Monte Valley, reaching into the clouds. Visit www.sandiegoriver.org to learn more about this project.
San Diego River Park FoundationPO Box 80126San Diego, CA 92138-0126
non profitorganizationu.s. postage
PAIDsan diego, capermit # 957
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