PIEDMONT BEAUTIFICATION FOUNDATION
HISTORY
The Piedmont Beautification Foundation (PBF) was incorporated in 1964 to initiate and support community improvement and beautification protects through tax-deductible contributions. The inspiration for the organization came from the leadership of the Piedmont Garden Club (PGC), which continues to nominate the slate of PBF officer-trustees. These PGC-named trustees are joined by city trustees, including the mayor, a representative of the City Council, and the Chair of the Park Commission, to provide the voting leadership for PBF. Advisors, appointed by the PBF President from the Piedmont Garden Club and the community, provide advice and counsel on projects and programs, which follow. Working in concert with the City, PBF supports the planning, improvement, beautification, and maintenance of the community center, parks, streets, schools, and other civic undertakings. The commemorative tree and bench programs honor Piedmont citizens and family members; the Endowment Fund, established in 1991, provides a continuing source of support for the organization’s civic projects and the community’s future needs. PBF meets four times each year.
Donations and correspondence can be sent to PBF in care of City Hall, 120 Vista Avenue, Piedmont 94611-4031.
PROJECTS AND PROGRAMS
1964 - 2005
Since its incorporation on May 21, 1964. the Piedmont Beautification Foundation has contributed wholly or partially to the completion of the following projects, pursuing its original Mission Statement “to improve, beautify and maintain the premises and projects of the City of Piedmont.” Projects are generally listed by date of completion.
1964-65 Hall Fenway Landscaping and Plaque-Susan G. and Herbert E. Hall Memorial Redesign Cherry Walk New Stairs and Entrance to Pool Area of Recreation Center
1965-67 Community Center Circular Bed, Steps - Design and Planting
1967-68 Cherry Walk Sundial — Mrs. Paul St. Sure Memorial. Piedmont Court Circle Renovation
1968-69 Christmas Tree (Holiday) Greeting Fund Initiated (1968)
Community Center and Cherry Walk Exterior Lighting, Design & Installation (Completed 1971 -72)
1969-70 First Community Center Christmas Tree Lighting (1969)
(Holiday Tree Lighting after 1990)
Cherry Walk Memorial Plaque
Community Center Memorial Plantings
1970-71 Cherry Walk Landscaping and Additional Planting
Linda Park Benches
Blue Vase Triangle Planting
1971 -72 Chestnut Trees Planted on Highland Avenue — Mrs. Mark Noble Memorial
Beach School Liquid Ambers
Havens School Trees
1972-73 Community Center Canopies City Hall Flower Beds
1973-74 Re-Landscaping of Crocker Park, Phases I & II
1974-75 Tea House Donated by School Board
Community Center Renovation
Bi-Centennial Community Improvement Fund
Initiated (4th of July Raffle)
Tea House Area Design
1975-76 Crocker Park Re-Landscaping, Phase Ill
Highland Avenue Bus Shelter (nearGuilford)
Construction & Re-Landscaping, Irene R. Henshaw Memorial
Community Center Kitchen Renovation
Cemetery Wall Landscaping Plans
1976-77 Tea House Area and Redwood Deck
Cherry Walk Extension to Highland Avenue
Herbert I. Dunn Memorial
Cemetery Wall Planting, Irrigation, Drainage (on going — 10 years)
1977-78 Piedmont Parks Memorial Tree Fund Initiated
Hall Fenway Planting
Highland/Sheridan Triangle — Irene R. Henshaw Memorial
1978-79 Tea House Garden and Dry Pond
Dracena Park Landscaping
Hall Fenway Re-planted (due to drought)
High School Landscaping Plan and Installation
1979-80 Bufano “Bear with Nursing Cubs Dedicated in Crocker Park
Dracena Tot Lot
1980-81 Major Main Park Trees Trimming
Crocker Park Bench Repair and Bases
Bufano Bear Cobblestone Base- Marie Veitch Memorial
High School Landscaping
Cherry Walk Extension Irrigation
1981-82 Exedra Structural Restoration and Painting
New Path from Tea House to Community Center
Guilford Road Irrigation
1982-83 Exedra Gates Restoration
Community Center and Exedra Irrigation
Community Center Planter Landscaped — Frank Adams Memorial
Exedra Planting — William Marks Memorial
1983-84 Civic Center Landscaping Project Design
1984-85 Exedra Exterior Lighting Civic Center Landscaping Project Initiated
1985-86 Piedmont Historic Photograph Collection, Phase I
Civic Center Landscaping Project, Phases I & II
New Christmas Tree Lights
1986-87 Hall Fenway Planting— Herman Nichols Memorial
Hall Fenway - Carol Parker Bryan Memorial
Garden Design
Beach School Landscape Garden Protect
1987-88 Carol Parker Bryan Memorial Garden and Bench
City Hall Courtyard Benches and Fountain
City Hall & Veteran’s Building Landscape Maintenance
Main Park Renovation Initiated
1988-89 Civic Center Landscape Project Completion
Constitutional Bicentennial Rock Wall, Oak Trees, and Plaque
Fairview/Jerome Triangle- Ralph Marinelly Memorial Garden
Park Entrance/Bus Shelter Initiated
1989-90 Park Entrance/Bus Shelter and Landscaping Dedication
Wildwood Children’s Play Area Benches
Memorial Bench Program Initiated
Hall Fenway Maintenance (on going)
Fairview, Grand & San Carlos Medians Landscaping
1990-91 Community Center Window Treatments
Rhododendron Garden on Guilford Road — Mardie Kimbal Memorial
New Fenway Path and Irrigation
Main Piedmont Park Overlook and Pathways Renovation
State Urban Stream Renewal Grant to restore Piedmont Springs Creek
Crocker Park Infill Planting (on-going)
Community Center Magnolia — Catherine M. Witter Memorial
1991 -92 Piedmont Beautification Foundation Endowment Fund Established
Main Park Renovation — on going
Community Center Mirrors and Consoles
Main Park Tot Lot
Main Park Irrigation
Overlook Triangle Garden— Alice Eubanks Memorial
1992-93 Main Park Oak Trees and Ferns
Linda Park Landscape Design and Path
1993-94 First Piedmont Beautification Foundation Endowment Brochure Mailing
Community Center Re-Landscaping
Dracena Park Bench Landscaping— James Nutting Memorial
1994-95 California Native Plant Demonstration Garden
Bus Shelter Re-landscaping
Community Center Kitchen Renovation Plan
Crocker Park Wrought Iron Benches
Renovation Piedmont Historical Photograph Collection, Phase II
1995-96 Christmas Tree Pruned
Archival Slide Show and Video
1996-97 Bus Shelter Re-landscaping
Signage and Plaque for Native Plant Demonstration Garden
1998-2000 Piedmont Beautification Foundation Newsletter Initiated
Highland/Mountain Triangle
Wildwood Entrance to Piedmont Park
Wildwood School Parents Club Landscaping Project
William F. Kennelly Skate Park
2000-01 Bufano Bear Restoration and Cleaning
Wildwood Entrance to Piedmont Park Planting
Main Park Historic Bench Restoration
Exedra Plaza Project Design Initiated
2001 -02 Exedra Plaza Project Fundraising Campaign, including the Matthew Lempres
Memorial Fund for fountain and the Marianne Lempres Memorial Fund
Crocker Park Restoration funding for trees. plants, park bench and spare parts
2002-03 Exedra Park Plaza completed November 2002
Dracena Park Fundraising
2003-04 Exedra Park Plaza Donor Plaques installed
Lighting of the staircase
2004-2005 Dracena Park - Major financial donation for the beginning of Dracena Park Play area.
Financial pledge for repair to Exedra Plaza tiles
2005-2006 Pledged major donation for the final phase of the Exedra Park Project.
Replica of Historic Piedmont Park Faux Bois Bench donated by PBF. Final
installation in front of City Hall,
Financial donation made toward Centennial Historic Walk.
Dracena Park Children’s Play Area opened on
Researched for Piedmont Beautification Foundation by Helen Breck and Gail Lombardi
PROGRAMS
Commemorative Tree and Bench Programs
Holiday Greeting Fund
Holiday Tree Lighting
PBF Endowment Fund
PBF Spring Newsletter