Willow Park is a half-acre public park in Union City, California that showcases many Bay-Friendly landscape practices. The park earned the highest Bay-Friendly Rated Landscape score to date for its waste reduction features, onsite composting, diverse plant selection, no-mow turf alternative, and use of recycled materials. It provides amenities like picnic areas, playground equipment, and habitat for wildlife while conserving water through soil preparation, mulching, and the use of drought-tolerant native and Mediterranean plants. The park serves as a demonstration project for the City of Union City to educate the public on Bay-Friendly practices.

1. A Bay-Friendly Rated Landscape: A Case Study
WILLOW PARK
Pocket Park Showcases Remarkable Array of Bay-Friendly Landscape Practices
W FAST FACTS
illow Park, a
new half-acre
public park TOTAL PROJECT COST
in Union City, California, $307,000
PHOTO: RObeRT MOwaT assOciaTes
may be small in size. But LOCATION
120 Blue Spruce Lane
thanks to committed City
Union City, California
leadership and creative
PARCEL SIZE
design, this pocket park is
23,277 sq. ft.
packed with community
LANDSCAPED
amenities and Bay-Friendly AREA SIZE
Landscape features. 13,505 sq. ft.
“Willow Park serves a lot of functions,” said Robert Mowat, whose landscape architecture LANDSCAPE TYPE
firm designed the park. “There are picnic tables and barbecue grills, spaces for sitting, a Public park
play structure for children, and a lot of habitat” for birds and beneficial insects. COMPLETION DATE
October 2008
It has also achieved the highest Bay-Friendly Rated Landscape score to date, earning
points for features such as waste reduction, onsite composting, a diverse selection of OWNER/DEVELOPER
City of Union City
plants, a no-mow alternative to turf, and a variety of recycled-content products. Union
City received a $25,000 grant from StopWaste.Org to help fund some of these features. LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT
Robert Mowat Associates
The park, which is located in the midst of a residential neighborhood, gives local children San Francisco, California
a place to play while adults enjoy walking paths and benches situated among beautiful LANDSCAPE
landscaping. “What underlies the beauty are almost all of the Bay-Friendly Landscaping CONSTRUCTION
CONTRACTOR
techniques,” said Mowat.
McNabb
For Union City, which was the first of Alameda County’s cities to adopt Construction, Inc.
Lafayette, California
Bay-Friendly Landscaping as a requirement for civic projects,
BAY-FRIENDLY RATER
Willow Park provided an opportunity to try many Bay-
Design, Community and
Friendly techniques on a small scale. “It’s our responsibility to Environment Berkeley, CA
educate the public and have demonstration gardens to learn
CONTACT FOR
from,” said grounds supervisor Nelson Kirk, with the City’s MORE INFO
public works department. “This park will be a good indicator Nelson Kirk
City of Union City
for Bay-Friendly practices.” Other Bay-Friendly landscapes
TEL 510-675-5422
in Union City include street medians, a fire station, and the
front yards of eight city-owned affordable homes built across
the street from Willow Park.
J a n u a r y , 2 010 1

2. B Ay- F R I E N D Ly L A N D S C A P I N g P R AC T I C E S
Conserve Water
B Ay-FRIENDLy
AT A gLANCE
Bay-Friendly Rated
At Willow Park, a variety of strategies work together to reduce the use of
Landscape score:
irrigation water. To increase the soil’s water retention capacity, planting
beds were aerated to a depth of 12 inches and an inch of compost was mixed H 129 H
in. The compost adds organic matter, improving the soil’s ability to retain
moisture. To further reduce water loss, a 3-inch layer of recycled mulch
LANDSCAPE LOCALLY
covers the soil in the planted areas.
• Site analysis was completed to
More than 90 percent of the park’s plants are California native and maximize benefits of Bay-Friendly
Mediterranean species that thrive with infrequent watering. These species Landscape practices
include trees such as Chinese • Laboratory soil analysis provided
recommendations for organic soil
pistache and redwood, as well amendments and fertilizers
as manzanita, penstemon, sage,
LANDSCAPE FOR LESS TO THE
sedges and native irises. The LANDFILL
park’s efficient irrigation system
• Plant species installed will not
has a smart irrigation controller require shearing and will grow to
that adjusts watering schedules mature size within space allotted;
overplanting and tight spacing was
and volumes based on the
PHOTO: RObeRT MOwaT assOciaTes
avoided
weather.
• No invasive species were planted
To provide children and • Maintenance task list requires
children-at-heart with space to grasscycling (leaving grass clippings
on lawn after mowing)
run around, the park has two
• Areas under tree and shrub
lawns planted with conventional canopies that are least 10 feet
turf that take up 52 percent of away from hard surfaces and
the total irrigated area. Nearly storm drains are used as a leaf
repository
2,000 square feet of Carex pansa, a turf alternative, was also planted. This
• 3-cu. yd. compost bin used to
native bunchgrass requires no mowing, which helps the City stretch its compost plant debris onsite
maintenance budget further. It also needs much less irrigation water than • Educational signposts are made
turf. with recycled composite lumber
Establishing native perennial grasses can be challenging due to competition • Flyash displaces 50% of cement in
cast concrete tables and benches
from aggressive annual weeds. “So far lots of weeds have grown in this area,” and poured concrete paving
said Kirk, but “we are still hopeful the Carex pansa will fill in.” If it does • 100% of compost and mulch used
well, Union City may plant it in other civic landscapes to reduce maintenance was produced from urban plant
costs and water use. waste
• 44% of non-plant landscape
“We need to wait to see whether it will be as successful as a traditional materials are salvaged or recycled
lawn” said Mowat. “If it works, great. If it doesn’t then we can disseminate • 100% of construction and
information about what we learned.” Teresa Eade from StopWaste.Org notes, demolition debris was diverted
from landfills
“It is great that alternatives to turf are being tried. Carex pansa has been
successfully established at the Doyle Hollis Park in Emeryville. By monitoring • Plant debris was taken to a facility
that produces compost and mulch
these efforts we can build up a record of BMP’s that everyone can benefit from.”
3
2 J a n u a r y , 2 010

3. B Ay-FRIENDLy AT A gLANCE Landscape for Less to the Landfill
In Alameda County, construction, demolition and plant
NURTURE THE SOIL debris account for nearly 11 percent of the material
• Soil was not worked when wet that winds up in landfills. Bay-Friendly Landscaping
• A stormwater pollution prevention plan was prepared practices include a variety of methods that reduce
for the site
landfill deposits while offering other benefits such as
• Topsoil on site was removed, stored during
construction and re-spread saving money and improving plant health.
• Fencing was installed and maintained during When building Willow Park, nearly 100 percent of the
construction to protect soil from compaction by cars
and heavy equipment; valuable trees were protected
construction and demolition debris was diverted from
with fencing during construction landfills. An existing concrete masonry wall was broken
• An area was designated during construction for staging up and taken to a recycling center for processing
materials into roadway aggregate. Plastic plant containers were
• Compost socks were used to control erosion during returned to the nurseries for reuse, and the City’s
construction
Public Works Department ground up the wood boxes
• Soil in all landscaped areas was aerated to 12 inches
and amended with compost that trees arrived in, turning the wood into mulch.
• As part of ongoing maintenance, turf is topdressed with While recycling
finely screened, quality compost after aeration
is important, its
• Fertilizers prohibited by Organic Materials Research
Institute were not used
counterpart—
buying products
CONSERVE WATER
made with recycled
• All soil is protected with 3-inch layer of recycled mulch content—is just as
• 1 inch of compost was tilled into all planting areas necessary in order
• Over 90% of all plants are California native or to create viable markets for recycled raw materials.
Mediterranean species that require little or no summer
water All the compost and mulch used at Willow Park
• No turf was planted for purely aesthetic purposes; turf was made from recycled urban plant waste. The cast
has a water requirement equal to tall fescue concrete picnic tables and benches as well as the poured
• High efficiency irrigation system includes a smart concrete walkways contain a high volume of flyash,
irrigation controller, dedicated meter and schedule for
reporting water use
a recycled byproduct created when coal is burned
to generate electricity. The resilient paving surface
• Irrigation plans were reviewed by an Irrigation
Association trained irrigation specialist under the play structure contains roughly 50 percent
• Maintenance specifications require checking soil recycled rubber. Sixty-two
moisture content with soil probes before watering, percent of the traditional
adjusting the watering schedule based on weather
conditions and immediately replacing broken irrigation lumber was replaced with
equipment a plastic composite lumber
CONSERVE ENERgY made from a blend of
• 46% of paved areas will be shaded by trees within 15
recycled plastic and reclaimed
years wood. There is even a small
• 50% of the landscape materials were produced within 150 amount of recycled material in the play structure,
miles of the site barbecue grills, water fountain, and the headers
PROTECT WATER & AIR QUALITY that divide the lawns from other planted areas.
• Integrated pest management (IPM) was used during The park also makes good use of salvaged materials.
construction and will be used as part of the park’s
long-term maintenance; one landscaping staff member is Interlocking pavers removed from repaved crosswalks
trained in the use of IPM in Union City were salvaged from a storage yard and
J a n u a r y , 2 010 2
3

4. used to create the circular picnic area around the willow. Be Innovative
With a limited number of salvaged pavers available, Bay-Friendly Landscape design and construction
Mowat designed the area so that rings of the pavers techniques offer many benefits, such as healthier
alternate with bands of recycled-content concrete. soils, water conservation, waste reduction and
Inspired by Antoni Gaudi’s pollution prevention. To make the most of
mosaics in Barcelona’s Park these benefits, a landscape also needs to be
Güell, Mowat surrounded the maintained using Bay-Friendly practices.
willow with benches surfaced Nelson Kirk, the grounds supervisor for Union
with a mosaic of broken tiles City’s civic landscapes, is a Bay-Friendly Qualified
he purchased as seconds from landscape professional, as is the staff member who
a local tile manufacturer. oversees the crew that maintains Willow Park. When
[Sourcing recycled and salvaged materials can take extra working at Willow Park, the crew uses a Bay-Friendly
effort, Mowat said, but it is time well spent. “The initial maintenance checklist
R&D of the design is time intensive,” he said, “but you that outlines practices
take that knowledge with you into the next project.” such as using integrated
Since completing Willow Park, he has persuaded
PHOTO: RObeRT MOwaT assOciaTes
pest management (IPM),
public sector and private sector clients to include pruning methods that
more recycled-content materials in their landscapes. avoid shearing, aerating
and grasscycling of
turf, using compost and
PHOTO: RObeRT MOwaT assOciaTes
natural soil amendments,
and maintaining a
layer of recycled mulch
at least three inches deep in all planting areas.
Kirk is enthusiastic about the Bay-Friendly techniques
on display at Willow Park. “I think it’s a good start
with good intentions. We want to help promote
low maintenance, drought tolerance and sustainable
Tiles that were seconds
were selected for a mosaic practices,” he said. “We are hopeful that these
bench and sourced at Heath new techniques and plant materials will save on
ceramics in Sausalito. maintenance time and help heal our environment.”
Crunching the Numbers
Even a small park can make a big difference using Bay-Friendly Landscape practices. At Willow Park:
• 135,000 gallons of water is • 100% of compost and mulch is • 50% of landscape materials
saved per year by planting recycled urban plant waste were produced locally
low water-using plants and • 90% of plants are low water • 46% of paved areas will be
turf alternatives in 48% of the users shaded by trees in 15 years
irrigated areas • 85% of runoff is treated onsite • 44% of non-plant landscape
• 100% of C&D debris was • 50% of cement was replaced materials are salvaged or
diverted from landfills with recycled flyash recycled
5
4 J a n u a r y , 2 010

5. Where There’s a Willow, There’s a Way
W
illows typically love moisture, so it Permeable pavers in the circular picnic area
might seem surprising to plant one around the willow provide an additional path
at the heart of a water-conserving for water to reach the tree’s roots. The willow
landscape. But Mowat’s design challenges will still need supplemental irrigation during
assumptions about what civic landscapes may periods of drought, but it is served by a separate
look like in the future as freshwater supplies grow irrigation valve so that it can receive adequate
scarcer in California. moisture without overwatering other parts of the
park.
Mowat designed Willow Park to be graded so
that rainwater runoff flows into a depressed basin As Willow Park shows, a Bay-Friendly Landscape
in which the willow is planted. The basin serves can include some water-loving plants—in this
multiple functions. It keeps stormwater runoff case by retaining stormwater runoff, creating
where it belongs—in the soil—rather than letting drought-resistant soil with compost and mulch,
it flow into storm drains. It concentrates moisture and featuring a plant palette dominated by low
for the thirsty willow. And it creates a distinct water-using species.
focal point and inviting gathering spot for the
neighborhood.
J a n u a r y , 2 010 4
5

6. 1537 Webster Street, Oakland, CA 94612
Ask about our FREE resources: This case study was written by StopWaste.Org
as part of its Bay-Friendly Landscaping program.
Available online at www.Bay-Friendly.Org:
For information about waste reduction, recycling and
• Bay-Friendly Civic & Commercial Landscape Scorecard
sustainable landscaping, visit www.BayFriendly.org
• Bay-Friendly Landscape Guidelines: Sustainable Practices
for the Landscape Professional About the Agency
• A Bay-Friendly Landscaping Guide to Mulch: Save
The Alameda County Waste Management Authority &
Money, Control Weeds, and Create Healthy Landscapes
the Alameda County Source Reduction and Recycling
(Available in English and Spanish) Board is an integrated public agency whose mission
• A Bay-Friendly Landscaping Guide to Grasscycling: Save is to provide the most environmentally sound waste
Time, Save Money and Create Beautiful Lawns (Available management program for the people of Alameda County.
in English and Spanish) The authority and the Recycling Board produced this
• A Bay-Friendly Landscaping Guide to Recycled-Content case study to aid developers in creating and building
and Salvaged Materials: Add Value, Reduce Greenhouse sustainable landscapes
Gas Emissions and Create Attractive Landscapes
• Fact Sheet on Recycled Content Park & Recreation Products
in Alameda County
• Bay-Friendly Model Landscape Maintenance Specifications
Also check our website for information on the Bay-
Friendly Landscape Professional Qualification and
Training for both landscape design and maintenance
professionals at www.bayfriendly.org/bf-qualified.
W W W. B Ay- F R I E N D Ly. O R g
6 J a n u a r y , 2 010