Campaign Update | June 2022
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Thank you for your support of Elings Park EPIC! Campaign |
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Dear Friends,
Spring has sprung and summer is here! The 252 oak trees and 2000 native shrubs planted this spring are thriving.
Over 400 sheep were recently back in the hills of Elings Park South grazing, improving the soil, and providing a natural form of wildfire abatement.
The sounds of kids attending camp affirm the joy of summer days.
In the last 3 months, EPIC! raised over $600,000. Thanks to you, we continue to make the badly needed improvements to the Park’s infrastructure.
Every time we’re in the Park, the compliments we hear are gratifying. So many smiles on so many faces. Making a difference in the lives of many, Elings Park continues to prove its relevance. The children, adults, and families who visit the Park’s 230 acres of open space every day tell us so.
Elings Park is America’s largest park operated by a non-profit without any government funding. We thank the community members and foundations who contribute to EPIC!
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Las Positas Tennis Center Renovation Hits 60% Fundraising Milestone
With recent gifts and pledges, we’ve raised $1.9M of the $3.2M required to renovate the Tennis Center. Our goal is to raise the balance by September and to start the renovation on September 6, 2022.
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New improvements will include new restrooms, patios, terrace seating, shaded gathering areas, BBQ, drinking fountain, pro shop, shade trellis, ADA access to all courts, landscaping, paving, new parking lot, improved security, and better site lighting.
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Once the remaining funds are raised, the renovation work is expected to take 9 months.
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Meanwhile, two major milestones were reached –
- The building permit is ready!
- New LED court lighting was installed. The new lights provide better court lighting to a collegiate level and reduce energy costs by 75%
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Signature Playground - Phase 1 of 4
Surveying is complete. With the addition of the popular sliding hill, the Cappello Playground is getting more use than ever before. Yet, having been in place for 30 years, and going through two sets of play equipment, it’s now time for an update.
It’s also a perfect opportunity to design the new playground to tell the Park’s story in a fun and inviting way. EPIC! has commissioned an award-winning illustrator to bring to life a children’s story about how the Park came to be.
As you can imagine, trying to explain that the Park operates without any government funding and exists only because of the generosity of the community is a tough challenge.
Even more so is explaining that it was once the City’s dump, but became a pioneer in the environmental movement of reclaiming brownfields for recreation.
However, kids get it, especially if it’s told to them in a story. So we’re going to let the kids educate their families as to how Elings Park came to be.
EPIC! envisions connecting the Cappello Playground with the existing Soccer Field Playground through two other playgrounds now under concept development.
Adapt, Reduce, Reuse, Recycle and Restore will be the underlying themes of these highly innovative playgrounds. Together, we can show how we can heal the earth and reestablish a sense of outdoor play and good health to our local community.
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Enclosed Dog Play Area
It’s hard to say who has more fun at the Park…the human members of the Elings Park Dog Owners Group (EPDOG) or their canine companions. What we do know is that EPDOG members treasure their time at the Park, interacting with both two-and four-legged friends.
With so much activity at the Park, EPIC! has determined that two enclosed dog play areas would be of great benefit. The enclosed dog play areas will provide a dedicated area for Fido and Spot to hang out. The new areas will provide shade, a safe place to play, relax, and more.
With the surveying complete, a design consultant is being selected. EPIC! looks to get started Q4 2022 once the approximately $750,000 in pledges and cash are raised.
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Promote Godric Grove's Significance as a Cultural Resource
As the Park’s premier venue, Godric Grove is a significant contributor to the Park’s finances. It’s also 40 years old and needs a re-fresh. Thanks to a generous challenge gift from the Kirby-Jones Foundation, we are starting to update the landscaping.
We are looking to raise an additional $550,000 to renovate the decking, patios, and handrails. Godric Grove is the largest contributor to the Park’s financial stability. These improvements will add value and increase our ability to be self-sustaining.
An EPIC! Thanks
Elings Park’s relevance with its 230 acres of safe open space has become invaluable to our community. So, it’s with gratitude to those foundations and individuals who contribute to the ongoing revitalization efforts of Elings Park’s infrastructure, we say thank you.
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Infrastructure Projects Completed |
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As a result of the community’s gifts and pledges, here’s what we’ve accomplished to date: |
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Mayor Randy Rowse speaking at National Arbor Day |
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Mayor Randy Rowse planting
Oak tree #252 to celebrate
National Arbor Day
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Water well
restored and operating
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Veteran's Memorial Walk
re-landscaped with native plants
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Las Positas Tennis Center renovation permit ready to issue |
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Las Positas mitigation planting partnership with City of SB completed along the Veterans Memorial Walkway and north of Godric Grove |
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Jerry Harwin Parkway re-forestation and native plants re-landscaping completed |
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Dog wash station installed |
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Elings Park’s Infrastructure Committee is hard at work lining up the next projects!
Water Well Restoration $100,000
Phase II – tying into Park’s irrigation system, with thanks to the Hutton Parker Foundation!
Park Hosts’ RV sites relocated $100,000
With surveying completed, site planning is underway with thanks to the Mosher Foundation!
EP South Trails Improvements $200,000
Underway with thanks to SAGE Trail Alliance, The Trek Foundation, and Montecito Bank & Trust!
JHP Entry Kiosk $150,000
Approved by the Architectural Board of Review! Fabrication drawings approved. Permit Plans are being developed with thanks to Anonymous Donor!
Frisbee Golf $25,000
Frisbee baskets in hand and course layout
with thanks to Bob and Patty Bryant!
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Upcoming Projects that we are currently fund raising for: |
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Las Positas Tennis Center
Accessible Paths of Travel
to all major Park Venues and Park Entrances
Improvements to Godric Grove and Amphitheatre
Renovation of Athletic Fields and Aging Irrigation Systems
Soccer Fields’ Main Entrance
Neighborhood Park Entrances and Accessibility Paths of Travel
Resilience Garden
in conjunction with Bucket Brigade
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Elings South Park
(Includes 140 open-space acres along the ocean with the hang-gliding hill.) $5,000,000
- Hiking & Biking Trails - $50,000-$100,000 each
- Director of Horticulture—Endowed Chair $2,500,000
Las Positas Tennis Center
- Tennis Center Complex - COMMITTED $1,000,000
- Tennis Courts - Centre Courts #s 3 and 4 $275,000 each
- Tennis Courts #s 1, 2, 5, 6 (Three left!) $50,000 each
- Tennis Court #5 - COMMITTED $50,000
- Patio Picnic and Meeting Area and Arbor $400,000
- Entry Pathway $100,000 - COMMITTED
- Pro Room $75,000
- Hitting Wall $50,000
- Terraced Viewing Area—Five Levels $50,000 each
Park Entry Kiosk
COMMITTED $250,000
Amphitheater
(Includes Godric Grove Refurbishment, ADA Pathway, Restrooms, Bridal Dressing Room) $2,500,000
Pavilion Meadow
(Includes ADA Pathway) $500,000
- Pavilion Meadow Restrooms $250,000
- Pavilion Meadow Arbor $100,000
Playing Fields
- Softball Fields (3) $500,000 each
- Soccer/Rugby (2) $500,000 each
Playgrounds and Picnic Areas
- Cappello Playground—Ages 3-5 - COMMITTED
- Lower Signature Playground—Ages 5-12 $1,000,000
- Hillside Sliding Playground $1,000,000
- Upper Signature Playground $1,000,000
- Upper Family Picnic Area TBD
Enclosed Dog Play Area
- Agility Area $250,000
- Sunset Area $250,000
- Dog Wash - COMMITTED $30,000
- Plaza Patio $250,000
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To name a few, in the last year the Elings Park Foundation has formed community partnerships with: |
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> Alternatives to Violence
> Bucket Brigade
> SB Foundation Bread and Roses
> Campaign for Literacy
> Evenings at Elings
> Montecito Bank & Trust
> Pacific Pride Foundation
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> Pickleball Aficionados
> PeerBuddies
> Police Activity League (PAL)
> Tennis Patrons Association
> Trek Foundation
> SAGE Trails Alliance
> Summit for Danny
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Thank you for your ongoing support of Elings Park!
With all our best wishes for a glorious Santa Barbara Springtime!
Bruce Giffin & Lauren Katz
Co-Chairs, EPIC! Campaign
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Elings Park Foundation Leadership |
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EPIC! Campaign Co-Chairs
Bruce Giffin
Lauren Katz
EPIC! Campaign Steering Committee
Joe Andrulaitis
Patty Bryant
Veronica Buck
Marcia Constance
Rick Lehman
Matthew Morphy
Holly Pieretti
Abe Powell
Marshall Rose
Peter Schuyler
Mike Tarpey
Lew Venegas
EPIC! Honorary Advisory Council
Bob Bryant
Joe Cole
Tooey Courtemanche
Jeff and Eun-ju Elings
Janet Garufis
Oscar Gutierrez
Gregg Hart
Palmer Jackson, Jr.
Mike Jordan
Abe Powell
Joann Rapp
Greg Tebbe
Anne Towbes
EPIC! Infrastructure Committee
Trish Allen
Suzanne Elledge Planning & Permitting Services, Inc.
Joe Andrulaitis
Andrulaitis & Mixon Architecture
David Black
David R. Black & Assoc., Landscape Architects
Mike Evans
Evans Constrcution Co.
Bruce Giffin
Giffin & Crane General Contractors, LLC, Ret.
Robert Schmidt
Flowers & Associates Engineering
Lew Venegas
Granite Construction, Ret.
EPIC! Campaign Coordinator
Marinella Baker
EPIC! Campaign Fundraising Counsel
The Kellogg Organization, Inc
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Board of Directors
Patty Bryant, President
Trish Allen
J. Gordon Auchincloss
Joe Andrulaitis
John Britton
Marcia Constance
Virgil Elings
Bruce Giffin
Lauren Katz
Jennifer Oakley
Belita Ong
Holly Pieretti
Catherine Remak
Robert Schmidt
Mike Tarpey
Lew Venegas
Dallas Verhagen
Jill Zachary, City Parks Director
Executive Director
Dean Noble
Directors Emeriti
Carolyn Pesnell Amory
Will Beall
Marty Blum
Sharon Bradford
Barry Cappello
Bill Cirone
Fred Clough
Michael Fauver
Roger Horton
Richard Johns
Eric Kanowsky
Lauri Leighty
Art Merovick
Chapin Nolen
Mike Noling
Nancy Rapp
Keith Schofield
Danny Vickers
Joanie Zacher
In Memorium
George Bliss
Debbie Davison
Patrick DeYoung
Bob Flowers
Jeanne Graffy
Jerry Harwin
Steve Katz
Bernie Krakower
General F. Michael Rogers
Katie O'Reilly-Rogers
Mike Warren
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As a self-funding non-profit entity, Elings Park receives no city, state, or federal tax dollars. Along with the help of our many volunteers, it is your generous, ongoing support that enables the park to prosper.
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