A Message from the General Manager
Dear Colleagues,
City park organizations around the world are celebrating World Parks Week this week, highlighting the importance of urban parks, open space and nature in our daily lives. Through the lens of the current coronavirus situation, this week also offers an important opportunity for us to examine how parks are continuing to provide essential mental and physical health benefits to our residents during this unprecedented time.
Over the past several weeks, I’ve continued to share with all of you my gratitude for your hard work and unwavering commitment to serving our communities. Today, I want to take some time to share with you some comments from other people around the city, who are equally as thankful and inspired by your efforts over the past several weeks.
“I just wanted to thank you for what a great job you and your folks are doing to help make life bearable during this time. I particularly want to thank you for having the human decency to keep the restrooms not only open, but always supplied with soap and… towels.” — Larry Simi
“Jim & I took a stroll around Stow Lake yesterday. The whole area looked beautiful. Wonderful flower beds and beautifully maintained. Your crew needs to be complimented. Thank you for the job you do for our city.” — Mary Jo Cooney
“I live on Russian Hill where we are lucky to enjoy many parks. I see them being used more during this time of warming, spring weather when it feels so good to get out of the house and find a pleasant place to exercise. Parks’ importance to the neighborhood can not be exaggerated. I am writing now to ask you to please convey my thanks to Zack (Taylor) and his team for the difference they are making. They succeed not only to maintain but also to improve the parks. Ina Coolbrith continues to look beautiful. The small park on Hyde between Green and Vallejo has been transformed with new plantings into a pleasurable place to be. And the smaller park on top of the Broadway Tunnel, which used to be a stinky place frequented mostly by dogs, is now a park where people enjoy sitting on the benches. Many of my neighbors have talked about how well your parks are looking and I know would join me in thanking all the members of your team captained and led by Zack.” — Phoebe Douglass
“We love all the staff at the Moscone (child care) location. They have been fabulous with my daughter Ella. She loves going in these crazy times. Thank you.” — Health care worker/parent
“I think the Rec and Park staff are some of the best people. My daughter knows some of them from her after school program, so at least there are familiar faces. We are so so grateful to all of you. You really care, and have made this doable for me.” — Health care worker/parent
Again, your work during this time is critical to helping our city cope with some very uncertain times, and it will be equally as important in its healing and recovery. I thank you again for all that you do.
Phil Ginsburg
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Wellness Update – New Calendar!
Thanks to a great partnership between RPD and the Health Services System (HSS), we have been able to clear some technical hurdles to become the first City Department to link to HSS’s Wellness Events Calendar! Check out the full calendar on RPD-U here. Future RPD Wellness events will also appear on the calendar.
As HSS continues to offer more resources to help staff with the new reality of the Covid-19 emergency, they are offering more and more digital resources. In addition to the Zoom classes you will find on the RPD-U calendar, they are also offering:
24/7 EAP
If at the workplace, please post the attached flyer. For those working remotely, spread the message: Your emotional health and the health of your employees is just as important as your physical health during this COVID-19 pandemic. For quick stress relief, counseling or a management consultation, give us a call anytime at (628) 652-4600 or (800) 795-2351. EAP is now available to help 24/7. We’re Here For You!
Use this guide and share it widely to help support any of your colleagues that are transitioning to working from home. The document has an ergonomic guide, encourages taking the DHR online ergo assessment, and provides tips to practice well-being at home.
The Department of Human Resources is offering two upcoming webinars to encourage good working from home habits. Additional dates will be posted as they become available. Bookmark this link for updates!
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The City’s COVID-19 Response: UCSF Online Lecture Series
The Association of Bay Area Health Officers has acknowledged the essential role of parks in public well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic. Over a series of three online lectures, UCSF faculty and public health officers will discuss strategies to support park agencies during this prolonged community emergency.
April 30, 2 – 3:30 p.m.
Principles of communicable diseases: how parks can help flatten the region’s epidemic curve
May 7, 2 – 3:30 p.m.
Staff and visitor safety outdoors
May 14, 2 – 3:30 p.m.
The role of parks in addressing stress and inequity
Sign up for any or all of these lectures today!
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Yoga Wednesdays
Join our virtual Yoga class on Wednesdays, 12 p.m.-12:45 p.m. The link/meeting info will stay the same for each class, and you can add it to your calendar with the “Weekly” link below.
Yoga with Donna
Apr 29, 2020 12:00 PM Pacific Time (US and Canada)
Every week on Wed, until Jun 10, 2020, 7 occurrence(s)
Apr 29, 2020 12:00 PM
May 6, 2020 12:00 PM
May 13, 2020 12:00 PM
May 20, 2020 12:00 PM
May 27, 2020 12:00 PM
Jun 3, 2020 12:00 PM
Jun 10, 2020 12:00 PM
Please download and import the following iCalendar (.ics) files to your calendar system.
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85413444735?pwd=L2pUTUNYMmtXWElaSDR5VDM2TmY4Zz09
Meeting ID: 854 1344 4735
Password: 275381
One tap mobile
+16699009128,,85413444735#,,#,275381# US (San Jose)
+13462487799,,85413444735#,,#,275381# US (Houston)
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