This document summarizes a Y-PLAN project with students from John F. Kennedy High School in Richmond, California. The students worked with the Richmond City Council to develop recommendations to improve the NURVE site, a vacant lot. Their vision included making pathways and connections in the site more welcoming through lighting, art, and benches. They also recommended adding recreation areas, art structures, fences and walls, businesses, and landscaping to create a more cohesive neighborhood. Additionally, they suggested implementing programs and community activities like sports, art classes, festivals, and a community garden to encourage community involvement.

1. Y-PLAN 2010 with
John F. Kennedy High School
R.I.C.H.M.O.N.D.
11th Grade / 4th
& 5th
Period US History
Mr. David Gutierrez
UC Berkeley Y-PLAN Mentors
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
Richmond City Council

2. Our Y-PLAN Path

3. Coming From a Negatively Viewed Environment
All Working Towards Making Richmond Better
Our Foundation

4. Professional Approach Towards Recommendations
Looked at Best Practices
How We Began
Took Everyday Travels
Looked at Everyday Environments
Noted Welcoming Elements
Debated Ideas
Choose Useful Positive Elements

5. Richmond has Rich History
Key Bay Area History
Education can be Fun
What We Found

6. We all Know Richmond has Problems
Money Spent On Streetscapes
Crime rate has Dropped
but….
and ..
Why this Matters
Need to Keep Youth Informed

7. Our Mission :
Tim Jones / Richmond Housing Authority

8. 4th
Period

9. Our Goal for the NURVE Site:
…To make it feel like one connected
neighborhood

10. Our Vision for Change
1. Pathways and Connections
2. Physical Design Elements
3. Programs and Activities

11. PART I – Pathways & Connections

12. Lighting
• Improves visibility
• Easier to navigate at night
• Makes it feel safer
• More welcoming

13. Pathways
• Mosaic / Tiled Pathway
• Winding and artistic
• Community art projects
• Green Pathways
• Welcoming entryways

14. Trees and Water Fountains
• Provide shade
• Beautiful
• Inviting

15. Benches
• Provides places to sit along the pathways
• Makes pathway feel more connected to the park
• Creative and artistic (community art)

16. PART II - Physical Design Elements

17. Recreation
• Recreation
o Picnic area and BBQ pit
o Play structures for kids
o Bike path & gated area to store bikes
• Support facilities
o Restrooms (not porta-potties)
o Waste (recycling bins, graffiti trash cans, composting)

18. Art Structures and Monuments
• Rock sculpture
Unique, low-cost art
• Creative wall of art
• will stop random signs
• freedom of expression
• legal tagging, stops vandalism

19. Fences and Walls
• Creative, Interesting Walls
• Community Events Wall
• Artistic fences
o Visually pleasing, Inviting
o Community-made
o Not jail-like

20. Businesses and Services
• Snack bar
o Not a liquor store
o A way to make $ (fundraiser)
o Healthy options
• Hang-out areas (indoor)
o Parties and events
o Year-round fun
o Rainy days
o Public, but nearby place

21. • Hidden cameras and visible ones
o Scare bad people
o Always someone watching
• Lighting
o Nice park lights
o Poles with lights on a string
o Solar powered and green
• Welcoming signs (signage)
Safety

22. Landscaping
• Grass
o Cut grass (green, with sprinklers),
o Picnic area,
o play area for kids.
• Trees!
o Shade, clean air, inviting

23. PART III - Programs and Activities

24. Organized Physical Activity
For youth and people of all ages
• Sports leagues
• Games
• Camps
• Music and Dance
• Physical Activities (walking, biking)

25. Educational Resources
After-School Programs
• Art classes, dance classes, sports programs, tutoring and homework
help
• Volunteer opportunities (for school credit!)
• Employment opportunities
• Mentoring programs
• Themed career weeks

26. Community Resources
Adult Activities
• Place for meetings, voter registration drives
• Meals
• Adult literacy program
• Computer literacy program

27. Community Festivals
• Get people involved with their community
• Makes the park a place where people can come together
• Attracts money and business
• Allows people to show off their talents
• Community dances
• Community movie nights

28. 5th
Period

29. entryways
& pathways
spotlight on heroes > empower + educate
youth quotes = embedded social pathways

30. fencing
chain-link fences inclusive & welcoming
Richmond #1 de - fencing leadership

31. lighting,
signage &
landscaping
lighting = visibility + crime
signage regulates movement & traffic
beautiful landscaping / safe layout

32. neighborhood
appeal
welcome sign = open community
mosaic paths + community art =
+ + outdoor bench
personal
expression

33. physical activity = risk of chronic disease
central location = eyes on the street
play
structures

34. gardens = (street appeal + healthy food)
pond + garden = outdoor classroom
community
garden &
fish pond

35. memorial garden stones = peaceful
community expression = positive outlet
community
art

36. We would like to thank everyone who
has made this semester possible – we
appreciate everything you have done!
Les damos gracias a todos los que
hicieron este semestre posible.
¡Estamos agradecidos por todo lo que
han hecho!