By Larry Clinton, Sausalito Historical Society
The recent announcement from Sausalito Beautiful’s Green Thumbs Team of a cleanup day last Saturday at Tiffany Park piqued my curiosity about this easily overlooked Sausalito landmark.
Our Sausalito.com states: “Most people driving along Bridgeway in southern Sausalito miss Tiffany Park, because the fabulous views of the Bridgeway Promenade draw your eye towards the Bay and San Francisco. But tucked along the side of the road at the base of the hill is a great shady spot to sit and enjoy the view,” adding that “the narrow flagstoned space runs alongside Bridgeway for about 60 feet, with some landscaping and a couple of benches spread across a low terrace.”
PHOTO FROM SAUSALITO BEAUTIFUL
Picturesque and cozy Tiffany Park
Historical Society founder Jack Tracy included a thumbnail history of the park in his book Moments in Time: “The pocket-sized Tiffany Park at the foot of the North Street Stairs honors William Zobel Tiffany who served as Sausalito City Clerk from 1913 to 1939. In 1942 when this park was first planned, it was to have been a beach on the east side of Bridgeway. The plans were never completed, and it was not until 1963 that the park was dedicated, on the west side of Bridgeway.”
William Tiffany distinguished himself in 1911 when he ordered city crews to spare a cypress tree that was slated for removal to make room for newfangled auto travel. The women who demanded his action went on to form the Sausalito Woman’s Club and named the sole survivor the Founder’s Tree.
Sausalito Beautiful reports that esteemed artist Tim Collins was commissioned by Public Art Works in the 1980s to create a water and light art installation at Tiffany Park. The resulting artwork, enigmatically labeled ‘Gravity is a law in the material world, Levitation is a law in the spiritual world,’ looks like a tiny stone cottage tucked into the hillside.
Installed in 1993, the artwork has required periodic restoration. In 2015, the Sausalito Woman’s Club offered to fund renovation of defunct light and water features and to replace dilapidated landscaping in the immediate area. Club member Shelby Van Meter pulled together a team of specialists to complete the renovation. The city public works department is now planning repair the lighting fixture inside the tiny structure.
Sausalito Beautiful’ s Green Thumbs team, which organized last Saturday’s clean-up day, is made up of citizen volunteers who roll up their sleeves to make improvements in Sausalito’s public green spaces. Once a month the team of volunteers weed, trim, plant, and/or mulch at a pre-selected site.
The Green Thumbs team has worked at many locations throughout the city including Vina del Mar Plaza, the landscaped strip on Bridgeway between Taste of Rome and the Ice House, the bus shelter and adjoining mini-park at Easterby Street, and the Sausalito Post Office. This program is currently headed by Jim Scriba, who also serves on the Historical Society board.
The next cleanup day is scheduled for Saturday, October 16 at Bayside Martin Luther King Jr. Academy. 200 Phillips Dr. in Marin City. The team typically meets from 9:30 a.m. until noon, working together out in the fresh air. Participants meet new neighbors and see old friends while having the satisfaction of beautifying our community.