National Park Service hosts pop-up parks during Richmond's PARK(ing) Day on September 16th

Date: September 12, 2016
Contact: Kieron Slaughter, 510-232-1542 ext. 6602

(Richmond, California) –Richmond, CA –National Park Service Rangers are hosting a PARK(ing) Day event on September 16th. The event will be in front of Kaleidoscope Coffee at 109 Park Place, Richmond, CA 94801 from 10:00am –3:30pm

PARK(ing) Day is an annual, worldwide event designed to get communities talking about parks and recreation, and re-thinking what makes a park. "It's a great opportunity for us to bring a small representation of the parks to the people in urban areas and highlight some our lesser known parks and programs throughout the East Bay and San Francisco Bay Area," said Kieron Slaughter, Urban Fellow. "You don't have to go to Yellowstone to experience a National Park and to interact with Park Rangers; we're a lot closer and more accessible than people think." As an Urban Fellow, Slaughter is modeling new and innovative approaches to community engagement outside the boundaries of the park. Last year was the first time that the National Park Service and the City of Richmond participated in PARK(ing) Day. "By modeling a successful pilot event last year in Richmond, the other Urban Agenda Model Cities will be participating in this year's event, hopefully we will inspire all 413 National Park Units to participate in this annual event." Photos and videos from the event will be shared on social media websites by using the hashtags #ParkingDay2016 and #NPSUrban.

Rosie the Riveter/WWII Home Front National Historical Park in Richmond, California is one of four National Park Service sites in the East Bay. Richmond, California was chosen as the site for this National Historical Park because it has so many surviving sites and structures from the World War II years that can help tell the diverse stories of the home front. These stories include the mobilization of America's industry and the changes in production techniques;the struggle for women's and minority rights;the labor movement;the growth of pre-paid medical care;advances in early childhood education and day care;recycling and rationing;major shifts in population;and changes in arts and culture. 

An unusual urban national park, Rosie the Riveter/WWII Home Front National Historical Park is located throughout the City of  Richmond, California. It is the flagship national park for telling stories of the home front efforts across the United States. Park sites you can visit include the Visitor Center within the historic oil house, the Rosie the Riveter Memorial, the historic Ford Assembly plant, the Maritime Childcare Center, the Red Oak Victory ship, Atchison Village and more. Visit us and learn!

In addition, the City of Richmond is home to more than 3,300 acres of regional and state parklands located along the shoreline and in the East Bay hills, and more than 250 acres of City-owned urban parkland. Plus, there are several community-initiated city parks, trails and enhanced recreational opportunities that were developed with support by Park Service staff –like the Harbor 8 and Unity Park on the Richmond Greenway.

Designed with a focus on relaxing and interactive activities, a temporary green space invites visitors to stretch their legs and discover a built park space amid an urban environment in the Point Richmond Historic District.  National Park Service and City of Richmond staff will be on hand from 10:00am –3:30pm to answer questions, take pictures and provide information on parks and open space.

The Rosie the Riveter Visitor Education Center is open seven days a week from 10 AM to 5 PM and is located at 1414 Harbour Way South, Suite 3000, Richmond, CA 94804. For more information and directions to the Visitor Education Center, please call [phone] x0 or visit https://www.nps.gov/rori/planyourvisit/directions.htm . Admission is free to the Visitor Center as well as all park sites and programs.

If you would like to receive information about upcoming park events, please visit www.rosietheriveter.org and sign up for the email newsletter. The Rosie the Riveter Trust is the non-profit association that is building a community of support for this national park.