Clark Natwick, center, at the Pacifica Beach Coalition. (Photo courtesy of Pacifica Beach Coalition)

"Green" might be the new buzzword among this generation, but Pacifican Clark Natwick has been living such environmental ideals for decades — long before they were mainstream or popular.

At age 76, that's a lot of years of "walking the talk" although in the naturally quiet Natwick's case actions definitely speak louder than words. He's a man who speaks softly and carries a big shovel.

His decades of devotion and activism recently earned him the city of Pacifica's Open Space Preservation Award, awarded by the City Council based on a recommendation from the Open Space Committee. John Curtis earned the award last year, Ferd Simons the year before that.

Natwick was publicly honored at Monday's City Council meeting.

While not one to focus attention on himself, Natwick has been a quiet, steady force behind Pacifica's environmental movement for years. His contributions go back to the late 1960s and continue on today.

"I remember walking in Linda Mar, being thrilled by the gentle green slopes of the surrounding ridges," said Natwick. "Also, taking my baby son to the ocean's edge where he splashed and jumped until he lost his diapers and walking in the beautiful Linda Mar tide pools, admiring the colors and shapes of marine life." Natwick is the father of two sons, Clark and Donald, and is a grandfather.

As a teacher in 1966 at Alta Loma Junior High School he led field trips to Sweeney Ridge field trips to Sweeney Ridge. In 1972 he was involved in editing and printing copies of the then grassroots group, Ecology Action of Pacifica's multi-page booklet on San Pedro Beach in the wake of a proposal to build to install a hotel and convention center.

It was "the first in a series of monographs on various aspects of Pacifica's environment. Ecology Action of Pacifica has planned the series to help Pacificans and others have a deeper understanding of the beauty of the environmental problems of our town At present Pacifica is a treasure of scenic beauty. Will this always be true? The hills and beaches are defenseless. Only we individuals can save them," wrote Natwick, as editor, in the preface.

Natwick printed the booklet with the facilities at Visual Design which was owned by Lynn Buchanan. Two years later, in 1974, Buchanan retired and Natwick purchased the business, renaming the print shop, Graffik Natwicks. In those early years, Natwick's shop was located in his garage at his home on Valencia.

"One weekend in the garage I printed 100,000 flyers for the Mondale/Ferraro campaign," recalled Natwick. "The Democratic Convention was in San Francisco that year. Over the years Graffik Natwick printed for businesses, organizations, politicians, environmental groups and individuals. The business was moved to San Francisco in 1980 and closed its doors in 2004.

Natwick was also president of the Pacifica Democrats in 1964, registering hundreds of voters for the Goldwater-Johnson election. He was also a member and volunteer at the former Amused Carrot, a funky, cooperative food store that was located on Palmetto Avenue in a building since converted to offices.

Other environmental projects and activities Natwick has been involved in over the years include participating in Ecology Action Recycling, which had a recycling center at the far south of town near San Pedro Terrace Road; participation in People United to Save Hills (PUSH) which helped preserve Sweeney Ridge as a national park.

The late Congressman Tom Lantos in 1984 conferred on Natwick the "Pacifica Congressional Public Service" award for his "altruistic endeavors, much of which included tireless efforts in preserving Pacifica's open spaces and indigenous environments."

Natwick, alongside others, successfully fought against the 380 freeway extension and "potential urbanization that extension would have brought to the entire north coast," the city's proclamation reads.

Along with serving as an original member on the city's Open Space Task Force and subsequent Open Space Committee, Natwick was also involved in the widespread campaign to establish the current Devil's Slide tunnels project as opposed to the controversial bypass project.

An early member of Friends of Pacifica that helped elect a slate of candidates to the council in the early 1980s and jump-start further environmental projects, Natwick was also involved in the effort to protect Mori Point and have it included in the GGNRA.

He has been at the forefront of both native plant restoration and endangered species habitat protection within the open space boundaries of San Pedro Valley County Park, Milagra Ridge, West Calera Creek and Pedro Point Headlands.

Natwick was co-founder of Pacifica's Environmental Family, a grassroots group dedicated to environmental education and to restoring and preserving Pacifica's beaches and creeks.

He attended early meetings and served as president of PEF for four years. Grant funding efforts led to the creation of the San Pedro Creek Watershed Coalition, which is an independent body dedicated to the preservation and enhancement of the creek.

More recently, Natwick has been "a driving force and inspiration to others for the past 11 years stewarding the annual beach planting at Pacifica State Beach in Linda Mar," the city's proclamation notes.

He has also for many years made a concentrated effort in the monitoring and protection of the endangered Snowy Plover and their habitat on the state beach. Natwick has also been especially active in beach wetlands restoration, ice plant removal and native species planting.

Natwick has also been involved in trail work and invasive plant removal at San Pedro Valley County Park; helped plant a native plant garden at the North Coast County Water District along Francisco Boulevard.

He offered assistance to Concerned Manor Residents who were working to prevent large-scale development on Milagra Ridge and over the years has been intricately involved in environmental efforts of the Pacifica Land Trust, California Coastal Conservancy (including volunteering at the Pedro Point Headlands), and has worked to protect the endangered San Francisco garter snake, Red-legged frog, Mission Blue butterfly throughout Pacifica. Natwick is also a member of the California Native Plant Society and participated in nature hikes.

In other local accomplishments, Natwick in 1981 coordinated a national championship bicycle race whose course included parts of the Cabrillo School grounds, hills above Cabrillo and part of Robert Road.

The race was sanctioned by the United States Cycling Federation and the Pacifica City Council, including then-Mayor Pete Murray, issued a proclamation commending the race. News of it was reported by local access Channel 8 (now 26) who made a video of the race, as well as national bicycle racing media.

In the early 1970s he was involved in "Pacifica Nexus," an alternative newsletter emphasizing the environment and women's issues, worked to promote the building of the Sanchez Library and is a member of the Unitarian Fellowship.

"Clark Natwick has been a steadfast advocate and leader in preserving and enhancing Pacifica's beautiful scenic hills, creeks and beaches and his visionary activism with preserving Pacifica's natural resources has inspired others to empower themselves to do the same. Throughout his lifelong purveyance of environmental vitality he periodically sought to engage and educate the youth," reads the city's proclamation.

"For his merits to the preservation and enhancement of open space in Pacifica, we the Open Space Committee declare Clark Natwick the recipient of the annual Pacifica Open Space Preservation Award."

Many of his fellow environmental compatriots were more than willing to lend their support during the city nomination process.

"Clark is well deserving of this recognition," said Jake Sigg of the Native Plant Society. "He has been very quietly but steadily and with determination working to defend and improve our natural environment and our connection to it," he wrote. "He is so quiet that you are almost unaware of what he does, but there is great power and strength there. Were there millions more of him."

"Clark deserves a lot of recognition and thanks for all he has done for the environment and Pacifica," wrote Jeri Flinn, former president of the Pacifica Beach Coalition.

He was one of the original founders of Pacifica's Environmental Family with Ann Edminster and Shirley Suhrer. "He was president of the PEF between Ann and myself," said Flinn. "And the San Pedro Creek Watershed Coalition was born as a project of the PEF during his presidency. For many years he organized environmental speakers at San Pedro Park and has led monthly restoration efforts at Pacifica State Beach for a dozen years. He's tracked the progress of Snowy Plovers and is largely responsible for the increase in their numbers."

Added Edminster: "I concur that he is more than deserving this award and it's long overdue. Clark has been the little engine that could for PEF for many years. He was the glue that bound the organization together, ensuring its continued existence when there was not enough personal energy or funding from other sources to move it along," she wrote. "The enormous success of the Pacifica State Beach wetlands restoration is one of Clark's most visible legacies, although there are countless others. Throughout his decades of steadfast endeavors, Clark has always been quiet and never sought attention or praise for himself. What mattered most was vitality of the natural environment and the community."

From his early environmental years comes this heartfelt testimony from longtime Pacifican Janice Dutton.

"Unlike Ferd Simons and John Curtis, Clark's activities are much more low key. They go to meetings and testify (which are much-needed activities) while Clark actively participates. He along with my husband, Marv Dutton, founded Pacifica's Environmental Family and has labored in the removal of ice plant from the beach. He and Marv acquainted Jake Sigg of the Native Plant Society in the Family's activities," Dutton wrote. "Can you believe that the city's PB&R Department while giving permission to plant on the beach once said don't harm the ice plant? Clark is also on call to help with special needs students who want to remove said ice plant, once during a rainstorm."

Wrote Dutton: "Clark monitors the Snowy Plovers almost daily and relays his count to the Half Moon Bay monitoring group. His assignment also includes dog-count recordings — leashed and unleashed. This is just a minor part of Clark's environmental activities in the last 48 years."

And from his more recent past this testament from Mary Petrilli, Pacifica resident and project information coordinator for the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy which is overseeing Mori Point: I have worked with Clark for 11 years at the annual beach planting event. Clark prepares all the public outreach information, distributes flyers and contacts the Pacifica Tribune. He makes sure we have tools, gloves, and other supplies and help from the city. He attends meetings, helps out with the plants and is there whenever you need him," Petrilli wrote.

"He is on the beach, photographing the plovers and educating the public. He inspires the local community to show their appreciation for the wonders of their beach by actually taking responsibility and getting involved in the protection of and enhancing its habitat as a fully functioning and healthy environment for the wildlife and, ultimately, for us.

"Clark prods every one of us into action with his quietly persistent way until the job gets done. It's an honor working with a man who shows his devotion to stewarding the earth each and every day."