Sycamore Park Project

The Sycamore Park Playground Project is a grassroots effort with the citizens of Mill Valley joining hands to provide a state-of-the-art playground not only for the children of Mill Valley, but for children throughout the area.

What makes this project unique is that the children have designed the playground and the entire community will help with fundraising and supply the labor to build the playground from June 21st to June 25th, 2006. We will need the help and support of hundreds of volunteers to make this project successful. This includes parents, grandparents, teenagers, and other interested members of the community working side by side to complete the park in only five days!

We have to raise $200,000 to build the playground. All donations to the playground are 100% tax-deductible!

HISTORY

Sycamore Park was a community formed during WWII with "Marinship", the ship building yards in Sausalito. This brought skilled and talented labor from all over the country and housing was required. Sycamore Park was developed to meet those needs. Many still live here and have witnessed many transformations the playground has undergone.

In the 1950's the park became Mill Valley's first Little League field, lovingly kept by parents and interested citizens. The city of Mill Valley owned 1.2 acres and leased 1 additional acre from a family that owned a nearby nursery. The original proposal was to buy the land and make it a 6.8 acre park spanning the area between Sycamore Avenue, La Goma, Miller Avenue and Valley Circle. The plans included the baseball diamond, swimming pool, picnic and park area, court game area, a neighborhood center and parking lot (estimated total cost for land and development was $259,140). Much to the dismay of Mill Valley's little league, the city would not pay the owners asking price and the land was sold to make a small shopping center and condominiums. The baseball field has since found a home elsewhere.

Then in the 1980's, for a brief time, the Lion's club made claim to the land and turned a section of the park into a horseshoe pit. However residents of the condominiums complained to the commissioners about the constant clanking noise. "Sycamore (Park) is one of the least-used parks in the city anyway" claimed commissioner Robert McLennan and the horseshoe pit was moved elsewhere.

Today's Sycamore Park is once again lovingly cared for by the city and the people. It has a wonderful expansive grassy area as well as a playground and perhaps one of the best views of Mount Tamalpias. The neighborhood has rediscovered this hidden alcove and it is livelier then ever. However, the playground at Sycamore Park is in desperate need of repair. Unable to find a record of when exactly it was built, residents who have lived here for over 35 years recall the playground from their childhood memories.

ABOUT THE SYCAMORE PARK PROJECT

The Sycamore Park Playground Project was formed by Scott Harrington in 2005. Following the lead of Millenium Park in nearby San Anselmo, Scott embarked on a project bringing neighbors together and at the same time benefiting local children. The park is to be designed by local kids and built by the community. The outcome will revitalize the heart of Sycamore Park and Mill Valley. The official name and theme for the playground will be unveiled at Design Day. We hope the playground will give everyone in the community the chance to get involved by contributing time, ideas, labor, money and materials. Contact us to learn more.

Why build a playground?

A community-built playground will provide an opportunity for many people to come together for a common purpose in a highly visible, short-term project that will continue to be a source of community pride. Throughout the process, from design to fundraising, from coordination to actual building, schoolchildren, community leaders, businesses, civic groups, and other volunteers will work together in an example of true community collaboration.

Where is the Sycamore Park playground?

The playground is right off Sycamore Avenue adjacent to Nelson. View map

When is the playground going to be built?

Construction of the playground will be accomplished with the assistance of volunteers from the community using the old-fashioned barn-raising method over a five-day period from June 21st – 25th, 2006 (Wednesday – Sunday).

How much will the playground cost?

Through donations from corporations, charitable foundations, and individuals, the Sycamore Park Project hopes to raise $200,00.00 to include picnic facilities and a new playground and for future maintenance and repairs.

Who will maintain this project after it is built?

Maintenance responsibility will be shared between the City of Mill Valley and "Friends of Sycamore Park". Special and preventative maintenance, such as periodic sanding and resealing, will be coordinated by the "Friends" group and funded by a special escrow account.

Are there special rules for using the playground?

Once the construction is completed, groups of children will tour the equipment and learn how to use it in appropriate ways. With awareness and cooperation, the playground will be enjoyed by many people for a long time.