ForestR:Sage Park

ForestR and Boy Scout Troop 722 rebuilt and restored Sage Park, ensuring its long-term maintenance. The park was transformed from bare dirt and non-native plants into a vibrant native garden featuring walkways, interpretive signage, and benches for visitors. Sage Park now serves as a welcoming native garden and educational resource for library visitors and the community for years to come.

The interpretive signage installed at the site educates visitors about the importance of native plants and their role in reducing pesticide and fertilizer use while supporting local wildlife. Outreach activities, including the scavenger hunt for children and adult surveys, engaged the public in learning about Sage Park and its alignment with broader watershed protection efforts, including the nearby Castro Valley Creek restoration. The outreach was conducted during two major community events at the Castro Valley Public Library, including an Earth Day celebration and a book sale, where volunteers educated attendees on the benefits of native plants and pollution prevention.

The success of the Sage Park project was measured through before-and-after photos of the 1,480-square-foot pocket park and public awareness surveys. A total of 67 adult surveys and 32 children’s scavenger hunts were completed, showing increased awareness of Sage Park’s wildlife habitat, water conservation, and stormwater pollution prevention benefits. Approximately 500 people attended the Earth Day event and 400 attended the book sale, significantly extending the park’s reach in the community.