2016 Accomplishments
The Friends of Montclair RR Trail wishes to thank our many dedicated volunteers and generous contributors for their ongoing support. Our appreciation, too, for the expertise and assistance provided by the great people at the City of Oakland, the Montclair Village Association, Montclair's Pet Food Express, and other community organizations with whom we've worked throughout the year.
Safety and Maintenance
• Planned and held 12 productive volunteer workdays -- Recruited and trained new volunteers from age 5 to age 85 -- Volunteers donated over 700 hours in time to trail upkeep and special projects • Registered as a "Creek to Bay Day", and removed furnishings, hazardous materials and other debris from the trail environment • Remediated or reported various trail concerns -- To improve fire safety, limbed, cut-up and stacked dead tree branches and coordinated with the City for disposal, reducing fuel load -- Repaired problem areas of paved trail with purchased asphalt -- Installed flags/signs to mark potentially dangerous issues until they could be resolved -- Reported stressed or fallen trees and other serious hazards to the City • Deepened drainage ditches, to improve water flow and to help keep debris off trail • Regularly refilled 5 dog waste stations (with earth-rated bags donated by Pet Food Express) |
Beauty and Enjoyment
• Installed over 120 new native plants at the La Salle Avenue trail entrance:
-- Obtained volunteer assistance & plans from a well-known local landscaper (pro bono)
-- Secured donated plants from Friends of Sausal Creek
-- Augmented donated plants with purchases from local native plant nurseries
-- Arranged, coordinated and shared expenses for repair of existing watering system
-- Built protective deer fencing around newly planted area
• Added native plants to the Cortereal entrance areas
• Removed or painted over graffiti near and along the trail
• Regularly collected trash and dog waste found along and off the trail
• Periodically swept paved areas of trail
• Installed over 120 new native plants at the La Salle Avenue trail entrance:
-- Obtained volunteer assistance & plans from a well-known local landscaper (pro bono)
-- Secured donated plants from Friends of Sausal Creek
-- Augmented donated plants with purchases from local native plant nurseries
-- Arranged, coordinated and shared expenses for repair of existing watering system
-- Built protective deer fencing around newly planted area
• Added native plants to the Cortereal entrance areas
• Removed or painted over graffiti near and along the trail
• Regularly collected trash and dog waste found along and off the trail
• Periodically swept paved areas of trail
Improvements
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• Purchased and arranged installation of a community notice board:
-- Posted trail rules, safety alerts and volunteering information and notices -- Set-up and maintained a Lost & Found area • Rebuilt stairs at the Mountain Blvd entrance to the "School Trail" section of the trail • Repainted wood panels and posts at La Salle Avenue trail entrance • Refinished and painted metal handrails at La Salle Avenue trail entrance |
We kicked off 2016 in a big way! by installing our first-ever "Montclair Railroad Trail" sign at the top of La Salle Avenue. By joining, volunteering and donating – and encouraging others in the community to do similarly – we hope to continue making the trail, and your experience on it, ever better.
Thanks for all. We're looking forward to a safe, happy and rewarding 2017 with you.
Barbara, Henry, Lin, Jeff, Valerie and Bernadette
Board Members
Thanks for all. We're looking forward to a safe, happy and rewarding 2017 with you.
Barbara, Henry, Lin, Jeff, Valerie and Bernadette
Board Members