Let's Open our Park!

Next Meeting this Sunday, March 22

3pm @ Ocean and Pacific (in front of our plot)

Hello Everyone!
Happy Spring! It's Elliot and Rachel here...co-directors of Long Beach community organization Urban Paradise. I know you haven't heard from us in a while so we're here to give you a couple updates on the project. The garden plot on Ocean and Pacific is looking beautiful; flowers are starting to bloom and the garden is really taking shape. I just went up and explored the rooftop gardens and was amazed to see that it was completely green! It's all filled with weeds and other spring time plants that have sprouted up in the past couple weeks. Even though it's not our water-wise vision of the garden it's still pretty impressive to see nature doing it's thing without any help from human hands.
We've been laying low the past two months as far as community meetings to focus on the political side of things. Things are getting a bit sticky and it's obvious that the city doesn't want to budge in terms of re-opening the rooftop park after 15 years of neglect. Here is the catch though. Urban Paradise was informed at the very start of this project that the person that bequeathed the land to the city of Long Beach wrote a deed requesting that the space always remain a public park. This is why we believe they always leave one gate open to the park even though it is supposed to be closed. In addition, the rooftop park is currently being maintained with public funds (tree trimming, etc.) but we still have no access. If we can find this deed in writing (which we are working on right now) it may very well be that this park belongs to the public and should be open to us and should have been open to us for the last 15 years. It is our time as the Long Beach community to claim this park as ours so that this amazing place can be utilized!
We are so close to re-opening this rooftop park as an Urban Paradise for and by the community of Long Beach...We just need some help from YOU! Come join us at our next meeting to help out.

• We are still looking for a logo for Urban Paradise so bring anything you've got this Sunday or e-mail it to us!
• Are you or someone you know a graphic designer? We are looking for anyone that can help us put a portfolio together for the city council and make it look nice :)
• We also need a new flyer! Come out this Sunday or e-mail us if you are interested in creating a new flyer for Urban Paradise.
• Secretary needed to take notes at meetings :) It would help us out a lot.

We miss seeing you all...Stay cool Long Beach

Peace and Love, Elliot and Rachel