Planting Roots in Colina Park

Planting roots in Colina Park will soon have literal meaning. While residents have been talking about making Colina Park a place to put down roots through new housing and improved quality of life, the International Rescue Committee has been working to bring the New Roots Community Farm to the neighborhood. They moved one step closer earlier this month - the project was heard and approved at a Land Use Hearing at City Hall. The New Roots Community Farm will be located on more than two acres of land (see picture) just outside the Colina Park neighborhood, providing opportunities for community members to grow healthy and culturally-appropriate foods on 85 plots ranging from 225 to 600 square feet.

Through our Neighborhoods First discussions over the past few months, we have come to appreciate the potential of community gardens to do more than provide healthy food for our community - we also see the opportunities to honor culture, bridge differences, and build community.

Union Tribune Recognizes Colina Park Neighbors

Others are beginning to recognize the power of what is happening in Colina Park. Check out this article from the Union Tribune.

Sidney Michael, Colina Park resident, summed it up well:

“Once you get everybody working together, you can keep the trouble out,” Michael said. “Once everybody's committed, that's when the strength comes in.”

What do you think?

neighborhood shuttles...performance art contests...

We're getting close! After months of planning how we will achieve our vision, we are getting ready to create an action plan. Some of our favorite ideas across strategy areas are:

• Hold a monthly performance art contest in the neighborhood - poetry slam, dance, music - to bring people together and celebrate our different cultures
• Establish a renter/landlord group to solve shared problems, provide training, and improve communications
• Create a safe place in the neighborhood for teenagers to hang out together
• Re-introduce the park to the community as a safe place - a grand-reopening, a new feature, a new name, etc.
• Expand after-school student activities and clubs
• Develop partnerships with employers that might be appropriate for non-English speaking population and first-time job seekers
• Create a beautification map for the neighborhood - places where we need lights, sidewalks and trees.

And that's just a start - we've also talked about neighborhood shuttles, community centers and new housing. What are your ideas? We want to hear from you. Contact us to receive information about upcoming meetings.

Community Meeting on Monday

Did you like what you saw at Colina Park Night Out? Join neighbors, friends and local organizations as we plan what's next for our neighborhood.

Monday August 11, 5pm-7:30pm
at the Colina Del Sol Recreation Center
5319 Orange Avenue.

Dinner and childcare provided.

What a Night!

Last night was Colina Park's first-ever Night Out event to celebrate safety and peace for our community. We had some fun - eating pizza and bbq, jumping rope, meeting McGruff the Crime-Fighting dog! But we were there for a purpose - to unite the Colina Park community.

And that's just what happened. Our children welcomed us to the event in more than 10 languages. We spoke of a shared neighborhood where we all work together. And we marched as a united community. Our presence was felt. Passing cars honked along University Avenue and 54th Street, recognizing the impact of our march. It was a great night - and just the beginning.

Check out more photos here: