The Rockridge Community Planning Council (RCPC) is pleased to announce the results of the first round of the Kevin Faughnan Grants for 2021. Four applications were submitted and the RCPC Board has approved a grant for Buzz Garden at 24.
This $750 grant allows for expansion of an existing project originally funded by the RCPC in 2016 when the project proponents applied for and received funds to create a garden on the CalTrans property located by the Highway 24 exit lane parallel to Keith Avenue and Broadway.
The Buzz Garden at 24 is seen by residents and commuters daily and it will be gratifying to see this project continue to positively impact neighbors and the local ecosystem. The overall goal is to create a public amenity that will provide natural beauty, and attract hummingbirds, bees, and butterflies.
Creating and supporting biodiversity in our urban setting is central to the purpose of the garden. Natives and drought-resistant plants are primarily used, as well as milkweed, which feed monarch butterflies. The work includes trash pickup, weeding, and pruning — at times hampered by shut-offs and problems with the watering system — and collaborating with CalTrans for green waste and garbage removal.
It is gratifying and appreciated to hear people shout out their thanks as they drive by in a simple and meaningful gesture of support to the regular volunteers and a few informal consultants, in particular, Agnes Faughnan, who often donates plants
to the project.
The goal this year is to address the irrigation system issues with the help of a specialist to repair valves and water lines and to redesign the system overall to optimize usage. While this is the primary use of funding, some funds will be used to increase the volume of plantings as project proponents gain access to wholesale-priced plants and succulent cuttings.
Additional authorized grant funds remain available, and we expect to announce further grants in upcoming issues of The Rockridge
News. If you have a project you are considering or didn’t have time to fully develop for this round, please note that we anticipate announcing an additional round of funding later this year.
Want to donate time, expertise, or labor? Contact Robin McDonnell at info@rockridge.org to discuss your thoughts on these proposed projects
