Looking for an alternative to the Monday workday routine? Grab your wheelbarrow and join other park lovers as we mulch the trees of McKinley Park. Why are we adding mulch to the trees? • Mulch suppresses weeds, which reduces maintenance costs by reducing the need to apply herbicides around the trees (a common practice in Sacramento area parks) • Mulch increases nutrient and water retention in the soil (which means less watering) • Mulch enhances soil structure • Mulch encourages favorable microbes and worms Ken Decio, California Integrated Waste Management Board says, “Not only does mulch keep green material out of landfills. It also controls weeds, reduces erosion, conserves water, adds

It's coming to that time of year again when people reunite with the outdoors, shedding the winter clothes and holiday pounds in a zest for activities under the sun. While some folks prefer to stay inside, others are ready to lather on the sunscreen. The Sacramento Press hit the streets around McKinley Park, William Land Park and surrounding neighborhoods this Easter weekend to hear what locals consider their favorite outdoor activities. Golden 1 Membership-Relationship Specialist Sarah Jones, 25, said she enjoys walking her three dogs with her husband at McKinley Park because of the exercise for both the dogs and her and her husband. "We will usually do two laps or so. It's good for th

As the overhaul of the McKinley Park Rose garden nears its May completion date, a neighborhood group is preparing to take control of the garden and events in the park – along with the profit and benefits that go with it. To date, the city has spent nearly $300,000 on refurbishing and upgrading the popular East Sacramento rose garden, including irrigation system improvements, new walkways and benches and a new entry sign. The City Council unanimously voted in favor of a five-year license agreement Tuesday between the city of Sacramento and local nonprofit organization Friends of East Sacramento for maintenance and control of the McKinley Park Rose Garden. The group will also assume respo

Taken about a month ago, these two trees have done a great job providing beauty to McKinley Park during this seemingly early spring of 2012. I am not a tree whiz and I don't know their species. Perhaps someone can let me know!

The long-awaited renovations at the McKinley Park Rose Garden are nearing completion, and the garden is expected to be open by April – just in time for spring weddings in the park. “The process feels like it’s taken forever,” University of California Master Gardner Ellie Longanecker said Wednesday. The rose garden was scheduled to be closed from September to mid-February for renovations, including a new irrigation system, accessible walkways, planter curbs, new signs and handicap-accessible parking spaces near the garden entrance. The work has been extended until the end of March or early April, Longanecker said, because of problems with the new irrigation system that created delays in

As I left McKinley Library around 2pm today, my eyes were drawn to the backlighting of the inland seagulls as they flitted here and there around the pond. As I was snapping away more people gathered around tossing food to the fowl, which was a good thing. I ended up catching the backlighting effect in a few of the shots. Here's the best out of 360 shots: After awhile it became monotonous!

East Sacramento residents and businesses succeeded in preventing the closure of the Clunie Center at McKinley Park, which was scheduled for later this year, Mayor Kevin Johnson announced Tuesday. The center was slated for closure in June because of budget shortfalls, with the McKinley library likely to follow.The Friends of East Sacramento, a nonprofit organization, set forth a plan to take over management of the facility three years ago, Johnson said. He added that under nonprofit management, the facility will save $20,000 in operating costs each year. “Sometimes you have to draw a line in the sand and not let something you truly value disappear,” said Cecily Hastings, publisher of Insi

With help from neighborhood volunteers and a group of rose-lovers, the rose garden at McKinley Park will be getting a facelift this fall. The 1.5-acre rose garden, which was originally planted in 1928, will be closed from September to mid-February for renovations, including a new irrigation system, accessible walkways, planter curbs, new signs and accessible parking spaces near the garden entrance. According to a recent historical assessment, the 83-year-old garden has not been upgraded or improved for several decades except for the rose arbors, which were replaced five years ago. “This may be the first time (the rose garden) has ever been given this much attention,” said Claudia Bordin

Beautiful sunny days are here and people are beginning to tuck away boots, coats and umbrellas until the next rainy and cold season. They are pulling out sandals, shorts and thinking about how to enjoy the sunshine. I went to the streets of Sacramento and asked people, “Where is the best public place to sunbathe?” Here is what folks had to say: Anna Vang, 26, is a student at Cosumnes River College from South Sacramento and works for a home day care. “I like to sunbathe at Sun Splash Water Park,” Vang said. Britanny Heines, 18, an employee at AT&T and Denis Myrick, 19, a student at Cosumnes River College are both from Galt. “We like to go to Mokelumne river to sunbathe,” Myrick said.

Sacramento, CA | This weekend, the Garden & Arts Center near McKinley Park played host to the Sacramento Rose Society’s 63rd Annual Rose Show. The show was open to anyone from novices to amateurs. “This year, participants came from as far away as Chico,” said Dave Coop, a member of the Society. The Rose Society this year went with a smaller trophy table than in earlier years to make more room for the floral displays. All winners were to receive gift cards for their entries, but the main winners of the rose show are the Hybrid Tea Roses, which compete for the biggest trophy “Queen of Show”. Judges are looking for form, substance, and if the roses stay true to their variety. Getting roses

Spring is here, which means the kids have been hibernating all winter and are ready for some outdoor fun. The Sacramento Press recently posed the question, “Where is the best place to take kids to have fun for less than $20,” to people at Westfield Downtown Plaza. Joseph Enriquez, 22, of Elk Grove is a personal trainer. “(I would take them to) Funderland,” he said. Funderland is a small, outdoor amusement park at 1350 17th Ave. for children ages 2 to 12. There are nine child-sized rides. Admission to Funderland is free and each ride requires one ticket. Funderland offers single tickets for $1.75 on weekdays and $1.95 on weekends and has ticket books, wristbands and season passes. For

Spring is nearly a month in, and as April turns into May, the forecast promises warmer weather and plenty of outdoor activities, especially this weekend, as Easter is Sunday. There are plenty of ways to celebrate Easter, whether you’re looking for a traditional egg hunt or a nice place to eat Sunday Brunch. What: Southside Park Spring Egg Hunt When: Saturday, 11 a.m. - noon Where: Southside Park, 2107 Sixth St. Cost: Free With help from the Southside Park Neighborhood Association and St. John’s Baptist Church, Vineyard Church, the city of Sacramento will host the Southside Park Spring Egg Hunt, which will have a plethora of activities for the kids, including an egg hunt, face paintin

While most Americans may be more familiar with sports such as football, soccer or basketball, very few have heard of Australian Rules Football. Australian native Amy Bishop, 31, explained that Australian Rules Football, also known as “footy” or “Aussie rules,” is a very popular sport in Australia, and it is unlike rugby, soccer or any other sport. She also noted that while many Americans may not know of it, it has a presence in America via recreational clubs such as the Sacramento Footy Club, which she founded and was the president of for the past two years. When she moved from Washington, D.C., to Sacramento in 2008, she decided Sacramento needed it’s own footy club. “I didn’t start p

The next volunteer work day at McKinley Park will take place on Saturday, March 12th from 9:00 a.m. to noon. The group will be working in the playground. This will include spreading new chips and evening out existing chips, sweeping the sand and chips from the toys and sanding the model of the Alhambra. The April work day will take place on Saturday, April 9th with focusing the health of the trees (newer trees first and then moving on to the older ones). The group will be spading or aerating around each tree, laying weed cloth and then spreading a layer of mulch 2 to 3 feet around each tree. East Sac residents Steve Swindel, Rich Clowdus and Patty Wait have organized a volunteer group fo

Local residents gathered at the Clunie Community Center in McKinley Park Saturday for a workshop on tree health by California arborist Susan Sims. The workshop was hosted by the Guardian Stewardship, a private nonprofit dedicated to supporting teaching about preservation, with the help of the Sacramento Tree Foundation, a local nonprofit. The four-hour presentation consisted of a video, a guest speaker and a outside tour of the trees in the park. “We are creating a new legacy,” said Ray Tretheway, executive director of the Sacramento Tree Foundation, during his opening comments to the presentation. Tretheway also gave a brief history of the 31.9-acre McKinley Park. In attendance of Sims

Mike Morris wore a headlamp late Thursday night as he searched for homeless people in McKinley Park and areas around the freeway at 29th Street. Morris, with two other volunteers and a law enforcement officer, interviewed two homeless individuals Thursday night as part of the Homeless Street Count event organized by the Sacramento Steps Forward group. A third homeless person declined to be interviewed. The Sacramento Press shadowed the group. About 400 volunteers turned out on a cold and foggy Thursday night to count the homeless living in Sacramento County. The count is done every other year to comply with the federal Housing and Urban Development Agency. “I’ve never done anything like

Trees and a bench are backlit by diffused light from street lamps in the fog at McKinley Park last night.     Sac Press Photo | Kati Garner

It was cold. It was gray. But despite the January chill, dozens of volunteers came out for the McKinley Rose Garden Prune-a-Thon. The the cheerful crew cut, pruned and clipped to make the garden grow. Although rose pruning reduces the plants to stubs, those who can endure delayed gratification will get their payoff in summer, when the garden is thick with a palette of blooms. The McKinley Rose Garden has about 1,300 plants. The city works hard to maintain the park, but neighbors and rose-lovers help groom the garden. McKinley Park, originally know as East Park, is in the heart of East Sacramento and one of its treasures. The Sacramento Rose Society was on hand to give expert advice on ro

Potters from around Northern California sold their wares in the warm and cozy Shepard Garden and Arts Center Saturday. The annual “seconds” show brought art buffs and residents out on a cold January morning. The show is advertised as a "seconds" show, but the art is first-class. Displays ranged from toothbrush holders to gleaming, fantastical creatures. While welcoming, some artists were reluctant to be photographed. "I've had photos used to create knockoffs that were produced in Asia," artist Sharon Bloom said. It's easy to see why the ideas would be pirated. Many of the designs are unique and original interpretations of American nature and whimsy. In East Sacramento, anyway, no shenan

 Late risers were disappointed when they showed up for Soil Born’s newest farm stand in McKinley Park on Saturday. By 10:30, the stand had sold out of beets, carrots, green beans, cucumbers, apricots and blackberries. Only potatoes and okra were left by noon, so Randy Stannard, Soil Born Farm’s food access coordinator, turned shoppers away, promising to triple the amount of fruits and vegetables next week. “We’ll have to make it bigger,” Stannard said. “We had an amazing response. People are just really excited to be able to have something down here in the park.” Soil Born chose McKinley Park for its stand because of its popularity. “Many people, a diverse amount of people, use the park