Successful Celebration of Sunol Ag Park’s 10th Anniversary at the Sunol Water Temple

On Saturday August 13th, the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC) and Sustainable Agriculture Education (SAGE) celebrated the 10th Anniversary of the Sunol Agricultural Park (AgPark) in the East Bay. Located on approximately 18 acres owned by the SFPUC, the Sunol AgPark is a collaborative farm that promotes sustainable agricultural practices, supports beginning and diverse farmers, fosters public education and protects natural resources in the Alameda Creek Watershed.

“Ten years ago, SAGE approached the SFPUC with a novel idea,” said Harlan L. Kelly, Jr. General Manager of the SFPUC. “Create an urban farm on our land between the Sunol Water Temple and our corporation yard. The farm would promote sustainable farming and educate the public about watershed stewardship. This was an entirely new concept to us years ago, and now we support urban agricultural programs throughout the Bay Area.”

The event took place on a very warm summer afternoon in the Sunol Valley, but that didn’t stop attendees from enjoying themselves with the Sunol Water Temple as the back drop. Guests included Norma Camacho the interim GM for Santa Clara Valley Water District, Sunol CAC members, SAGE Board members and staff, farmers from the Ag Park, Sunol neighbors and SFPUC staff who all came together to celebrate this milestone.

During the event, guests had the unique opportunity to tour the working Ag Park discovering the many vegetables, herbs, fruit and flowers grown on the property. All guests enjoyed delicious dishes prepared by local chefs using fruit and vegetables grown at and gathered from the Ag Park. These chefs all come from prominent eateries in the Bay Area including Bar Agricole and Standard Fare among others and donated their time for the event.  The event also received some media coverage from The Independent, a local newspaper serving Dublin, Livermore, Pleasanton and Sunol.

The SFPUC and SAGE commemorated this occasion by unveiling a bronze plaque that will be installed near the Sunol Water Temple to acknowledge SAGE’s hard work and Sibella Kraus’ integral role in the creation and long-term success of the AgPark. The SFPUC’s Commission recognized Sibella Krauss, for her hard work and dedication to this project, with a heartfelt acknowledgement and resolution at their Aug. 9 meeting. In 2017, SAGE will move on to other opportunities and the management of the AgPark will be taken over by the Alameda County Resource Conservation District. However, the farm will continue as it has- providing land for sustainable farming and education.