2018 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, Pet Food Express, Friends of Sausal Creek, and other community organizations with whom we've worked throughout the year.
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Cortereal Corner
Beauty and Enjoyment
  • Installed more native plants with organic soil at the La Salle Avenue trail entrance
  • Planted two donated redwood tree saplings and added protective fencing
  • Regularly cleaned up graffiti, using environmentally friendly products whenever possible
  • Picked up dog waste and trash as needed on- and off-trail
  • Periodically swept paved areas of trail
Preservation and Restoration
  • Maintained new native plants and oak trees through dry spells
  • Periodic hand watering and drip irrigation water generously donated by the
    Montclair Village Association &nearby residents Chris Pagano and Sharon Silberman
  • Pulled and weeded ivy, French broom, thistle, fox-tails, other non-native and invasive plants
  • Removed climbing ivy from the redwood trees and oaks
  • Continued working with PG&E’s transmission tower project team on restoration plans for the west and east meadow areas
 
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Workday Crew!
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New plants for La Salle Avenue entry
Safety and Maintenance
  • Removed garbage and debris from the entire trail
  • Regularly refilled dog waste stations with earth-rated bags donated by Pet Food Express
  • Posted safety and hazard alerts on the trail’s community notice board
  • Repaired rusting hand-rail at La Salle Avenue entry
  • Continued to remove large infestations of French Broom and fox-tails
  • Liaised with PG&E and City crews concerning
    • Restoration work in the east and west meadows
    • New chain-link fencing above the La Salle garage
    • New “park rules” and “dogs on leash” signs
    • New garbage cans
  • Cleaned-up eucalyptus and oak leaf debris and pulled French broom to reduce fire danger
  • Posted “No Smoking” fire danger warnings at trail entrances and along the trail
  • Sent out a special fire-danger alert to Friends of Montclair RR Trail e-mail list
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Finally, covered garbage cans!


Improvements

  • Coordinated and arranged with City to install garbage cans with lids placed in multiple locations along the length of the trail
  • Designed and arranged with City to install new “dogs on leash” signs at all trail entrances
  • Improved the drainage ditches to control run-off and mud on the trail in Melin Cut and near Cortereal Swale
  • Created a eucalyptus log border along the School Trail
  • Re-mulched the School Trail, to keep school kids’ feet from getting too muddy
  • Re-designed and produced new Volunteer Workday signage
 Education and Awareness
  • Hosted two well-attended trail history walks with Oakland historian Dennis Evanosky
  • Produced a “Dogs on Leash” hand-out card about rules for dogs on the trail for trail users and dog walkers in response to complaints about off-leash dogs
  • Regularly published seasonal items of interest and of fire-safe and landscaping suggestions
  • Permission given by Robt. Sieben, author of “A Homeowner’s Guide to Wildfire Prevention”
  • Hosted a successful Farmers’ Market “open-house” booth to inform public about the trail and Friends of Montclair RR Trail volunteer work
  • Distributed information of potential interest to the trail community
  • Posted on Nextdoor and on www.MontclairRRTrail.org
  • Posted trail and seasonal-related information and announcements on website and notice board

In General
  • Planned and held 9 productive volunteer workdays
  • Recruited and trained new volunteers
  • Volunteers donated over 664 hours in time to trail upkeep and special projects
  • Addressed questions, concerns and suggestions posed by the community
  • Thanked the many donors, members and volunteers for their generous contributions
  • Conducted multiple walk-throughs with PG&E and City personnel and with Friends of Sausal Creek representatives
  • Maintained tools and other supplies for use by volunteers
  • Purchased new plants from local native-plant nurseries to install at the La Salle Avenue entry
  • Held monthly Board meetings, distributed minutes, developed proposals and coordinated issue resolutions and activities throughout the year
  • Sent monthly newsletters (via e-mail and MailChimp) about upcoming volunteer workdays and other activities to encourage participation
  • Maintained the Montclair RR Trail website and the trail’s community message board
Thank you all for your interest and support.  We're looking forward to a safe, happy and rewarding 2019 with you.

Barbara, Bernadette, Henry, Jeff, Lin
Board Members
Remembering Nancy Gerow (b: March 1928 – d: Feb 2018)
Every early weekday morning until noon – she rarely missed a day – you would find Nancy in a field alongside the trail, filling large bags with thistles and other invasive plants.  Read more about this remarkable and memorable volunteer...