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

Sacramento residents are asking city staffers how they can help maintain services at local parks in the wake of the city council’s major cuts to the Parks and Recreation Department. The city council’s $8.3 million in cuts to the department last month has spurred residents to offer their help. The department laid off 57 employees last week. Dave Mitchell, operations manager for the Parks and Recreation Department, said the department is seeing an increase in the number of inquiries it receives about the Adopt-a-Park program. Sacramento residents are learning about the department through recent media coverage, he said. Residents are contacting the department and asking, “How do I become in

Should we close Sacramento's parks or slash services to them? How about opening up K Street to cars? Those are the two latest questions I'm asking for your input in my online forums, being run in cooperation with Peak Democracy. These forums are designed to foster civil discussion about issues facing me and the Council. But instead of attending a city council meeting, you can share your perspectives from your home or office without heading down to City Hall. And unlike newspaper (and this site's) comment sections, I'll read every comment and keep you updated on the issue as it progresses. This week I'm asking two questions, one on parks and another on K Street. I'd welcome your views.