Peggy smith - 2024 (Brinley)

The Brinley Award is a Davis community award that recognizes outstanding service benefitting the city.

Ever since Peggy Smith moved to town in 1977, she has been an active and engaged volunteer with a passion for education and building a strong sense of community. 

Over the past 17 years, her leadership and dedication have been a critical part of the initial establishment and ongoing success of Central Park Gardens, the volunteer-tended public demonstration gardens along B Street. 

Her hard work and devotion to our residents and their surroundings have led to her being named the 2024 Brinley Award winner. 

Smith co-founded Central Park Gardens in 2006 and continues to be involved with the project today. She was a steering committee member during the initial establishment of the garden (2006-2016), a Board Member (2017-present) and co-led every major phase of the garden’s development. 

As the garden’s public education coordinator from 2007 to 2020, Smith organized monthly free gardening workshops in Central Park Gardens led by master gardener volunteers and organized major open house and plant sale yearly events. 

"Peg is one of the kindest and warmest people I've had the pleasure of getting to know,” said Davis High Class of 2024 member and Davis Central Park Gardens volunteer Ellie Chang. “She always greets me with a smile that's contagious and inspires me to work my hardest when I see her giving her all. My four years with Central Park Gardening has been so memorable with her always working at volunteering sessions. I hope that as I grow older, I'll embrace and spread a positive attitude and spirit like Peg."

Since 2006, Smith has been the garden leader for the Central Park Gardens vegetable garden and beneficial insect borders. She has also led efforts to build paths, fences, irrigation, artwork and tend to garden plantings. Garden produce is donated to Davis Community Meals. 

Biweekly Sunday volunteer sessions are open to all as a way to recruit and train volunteers, which Smith has organized since 2021 as volunteer coordinator. 

In addition to all of these positions, Smith is known as the Central Park Gardens problem-solver and troubleshooter extraordinaire. She serves as the ears and eyes of the gardens, reporting safety concerns, solving issues, as well as manually watering the entire garden as needed during heatwaves and irrigation outages. 

“I have never met such a devoted volunteer - she serves as a community role model for volunteerism,” said Randii MacNear, Davis Farmers Market General Manager. “She inspires all of us and brings joy to the garden. Even when facing the challenges that are part of managing a public space, she remains very humble and calm and resolution-centered.”

Since 2022, Smith has served as the Central Park Gardens representative on the Natalie’s Corner Committee as well. 

“She has worked behind the scenes on almost every major program and initiative of the organization and has been steadfast in propping up others and the garden as a whole during challenging times,” remarked Central Park Gardens of Davis Board President Emily Griswold. “Central Park Gardens would not be the community treasure it is today without her hard work, dedication and committed leadership. Through her deep knowledge, enthusiasm and joyful presence, Peg has inspired and encouraged many hundreds of Davisites to find success and satisfaction in tending plants. The beauty of Central Park Gardens that provides a welcoming place of peace, wellbeing and inspiration to our community has only been possible through Peg’s devoted efforts.”

UCCE Master Gardeners Yolo County

Smith is an active volunteer with the UCCE Master Gardeners of Yolo County program. She contributes through leading trainings, writing articles and more. She has also been a member of the organization’s planning committee since 2007. 

As a Public Education Committee member, she has organized education coordinators for sites across Yolo County to strengthen programs and avoid duplication of efforts. 

Other volunteer ventures

Smith’s volunteering doesn’t stop at gardening however. She was a Davis Parent Nursery School volunteer and historian in the 1980’s, Davis free clinic volunteer in the 1980’s, Davis Co-Op volunteer in the 1970’s, Frog Society founder and president (a philanthropic group that helped buy textbooks for UC Davis medical residents and ran music fundraisers), and Davis High School PTA president. 

As PTA president in the late 1990’s, Smith supported music programs, served on the hiring committee for the music program director and on the planning committee for capital improvement projects including Brunelle Performance Hall. 

“Peg Smith is one of the unsung heroines of Davis,” stated Yolo County Supervisor Lucas Frerichs. “Not only does she have a four decades-long track record of volunteerism across numerous important Davis community institutions, she herself is the personification of a ‘Davis community institution’. Peg seems to know everybody, and is well-respected, people-oriented, and lifts up those who she works with. In all of her interactions, she makes people feel included, invited, integral and valued.”

When Smith was contacted about winning the Brinley Award, she first assumed that help was needed with the event in which the award is given out. She said she was happy to help volunteer at the event. That wasn't what the call was about though. 

"As the reality set in, I thought of others who had previously received the award, many of whom I have known or volunteered with over the years," Smith told The Enterprise. "It is a distinct honor to be in their company and receive this award for my involvement at Central Park Gardens. But it must be noted that Central Park Gardens has developed, grown and thrived because of a community of volunteers. Some join us for just a short while, others for years and the sum total of their efforts can be seen in the beauty of the gardens. I have been lucky to have been involved since the beginning of the renovation of the gardens in 2006. It is a labor of love for me."

— From the Davis Enterprise - Rebecca Wasik, Enterprise Staff Writer, December 30, 2023