HomeMy WebLinkAbout101420 Michael McDonald
From: michael mcdonald <mikemcd222@gmail.com>
Sent: Thursday, October 1, 2020 9:59 AM
To: Jane Joyce <jjoyce@danville.ca.gov>
Cc: Renee Morgan <RMorgan@danville.ca.gov>; Henry Perezalonso <HPerezalonso@danville.ca.gov>;
Joe Calabrigo <JCalabrigo@danville.ca.gov>
Subject: The Bounty Garden at Hap Magee Park
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Good Morning, Ms. Joyce,
My name is Michael McDonald. I'm a member of the management team that oversees the Bounty
Garden at Hap Magee Park and am writing to you in your capacity as Chair of the Town's Parks,
Recreation, and Arts Commission.
As I'm sure you know, the Bounty Garden was started over ten years ago as a high school project by
Alamo resident Heidi Abramson and her daughter Amelia. The idea was to create a community garden
at Hap Magee Park and donate all of the produce to the Food Bank. The Town and the County both
supported the project, a non profit corporation was formed and a licensing agreement between
the Town and the Garden's non profit was entered into. It's been very successful, delivering many
thousands of pounds of fresh produce to people in need in the county for ten years.
During the last several years, we've been struggling with a serious problem concerning the nearly
collapsed and dilapidated building adjacent to, but outside of the Garden itself. It is a habitat and
breeding ground for rats who help themselves to the produce we're growing, tunnel into the Garden's
barn, and generally constitute a nuisance and public health hazard. Heidi has discussed this problem
with Park staff on numerous occasions but budget constraints are always cited as the reason that no
action could be taken.
Last year, we pointed out that it was an attractive nuisance which created a liability exposure to the
Town. Budget constraints were again cited, yet money was made available to surround the building
with a chain link fence to address the liability issue. The rats, of course, remain and seem to be growing
in number.
Our request is simply that this eyesore and public health hazard next to a new children's playground be
demolished. I have raised this issue with the County as well and
I hope that with your help we can persuade the Town and the County to finally take action.
If it would be helpful, I would be more than happy to meet with you at the Bounty Garden to let you see
first hand what we're dealing with.
Thank you in advance for considering our request.
Michael McDonald, Alamo resident and member of the Bounty Garden management team.