Berkeley Parks Centennial events

Georgia NS Seamans sent me this information about upcoming Berkeley Parks Centennial events from John Steere, Berkeley Partners for Parks:

Centennial of Berkeley’s Parks: Celebrating the Diversity of Our Community’s Open Spaces

A Calendar of Events: August 25 – November 17, 2007

Berkeley is celebrating the 100th anniversary of its parks. Our City’s open space system was born in 1907 with the establishment of San Pablo Park, and has diversified over the ensuing decades into a rich fabric of parks and mini-parks (56 in all!), plazas, paths and greenways, community gardens, creeks, public pools, and fields, even a labyrinth. Our open space features are sprinkled all around our city and are theatres for recreation, reflection, food, music, art, nature, and yes – theatre. They evoke the unique sense of place and community that characterizes Berkeley. Berkeley Partners for Parks (BPFP), the organizational umbrella for their grassroots support (www.bpfp.org), is hosting a celebration of 100 years of our open space system through a variety of events that showcase the range of our public outdoor places and experiences we can have in them. The parks centennial season is from August 25 to November 17, encompassing a rich trove of activities for all ages and interests. Take part – celebrate our open spaces!

September 8, Saturday, 10 a.m. to noon

Rocks, Parks and Residential Neighborhoods of North Berkeley

Co-sponsored by the Berkeley Historical Society and Led by local historian, and author Susan Cerny.

Visit Indian Rock Park, Mortar Park, and Grotto Park in Northbrae and John Hinkel Park, all treasures of Berkeley's public open space. They contain native oaks, winding footpaths, and large stone outcroppings. Surrounding the parks are early 20th century residential neighborhoods with picturesque homes. Contact: Reserve a space by calling (510) 848-0181, between 1 pm and 4 pm on Thursday or Friday before the tour; or go to http://www.cityofberkeley.info/histsoc/#EVENTS

September 16, Sunday, 1 to 5 p.m.

Musical Block Party at Peralta Community Garden – hosted by the Friends of Westbrae Commons:

(Meet at 1400 Peralta Avenue, by the corner of Hopkins)

Celebration of 3 Community Gardens. Peralta Community Garden, Karl Linn, and Northside plus Ohlone Greenway and Berkeley Eco House. Afternoon will include a workshop on traffic management at Peralta/Hopkins intersection, plus food and music. Contact: Neil Collier 510-524-2671 or nacollier@pacbell.net

September 23, Sunday, 12 to 3 p.m.

East Bay Labyrinth Project –Walk the future labyrinth at the Marina

(East Lawn just south of University Avenue past the Marina Blvd.)

The East Bay Labyrinth Project will hold a facilitated walk at the future site of Berkeley Community Peace Labyrinth on the East Lawn of Berkeley Marina anytime from 12 noon to 3pm. Location is adjacent to University Avenue-Berkeley Marina bus stop, just south of Marina Blvd. Plenty of parking. Free to the public. Come walk the labyrinth in the sparkling beauty of a waterside location and to learn about plans for the permanent installation. Stop by on your way to the BPFP event at Aquatic Park from 3-5, just across the bicycle/pedestrian bridge from the labyrinth site. Contact: Nina Ham at nina@eastbaylabyrinthproject.org or visit us at www.eastbaylabyrinthproject.org

September 23, Sunday, 3 to 5 p.m.

Berkeley Partners for Parks Fundraiser in Aquatic Park

(At the EGRET Center/clubhouse, on Bolivar Drive just north of Ashby)

BPFP invites you to an afternoon of food, drink, music and camaraderie by the lagoon. Support the next 100 years of parks, community gardens, creeks and open space in Berkeley. Suggested donation: $30. Bring family and friends! RSVP to info@pbfp.org or call 510-540-7223.

September 30, Sunday, 5 to 7:30 p.m.

Halcyon Commons - Community Potluck with Live Music

(Halcyon Court at Prince St.)

Come celebrate 15th Anniversary of Halcyon Neighborhood Association, as well as the life in and around the newest park in the City’s park system (dedicated in 1996) – and the only one designed and built and maintained by the neighborhood around it. Bring food and drink to share with others. Lively musical offerings by “Rodeo Victory” – an acoustic folk band and the Zazous, a funky latin reggae group. Come share in the good vibes and vittles. Contact John Steere for more information: 510-849-1969; jsteere@igc.org

OCTOBER

October 13, Saturday, 9 a.m. to noon

School House Creek Commons-Fall Clean Up and Sowing of Wild Flower Seeds

(At Virginia and Curtis Streets-Eastern end of the Berkeley Adult School)

We will be having our fall clean-up and sowing of native wildflower seeds. If the weather has cooled enough, we also hope to be planting a slope of a hill with plugs of native grasses. These are all big projects, so come one, come all and enjoy one of the city’s newest open spaces and explore the native plants and orchard. There’s a play area for kids, and coffee and snacks will be served.

Contact: Jamie Day at 510-559-8368 or day7715@sbcglobal.net

NOVEMBER

November 3, Saturday, 10 a.m. to noon

Lower Codornices Creek: From Rails to Restoration

Co-sponsored by the Berkeley Historical Society and Led by Susan Schwartz with Drew Goetting & Richard Register. Explore lower Codornices Creek and its varied history, from early rails and industry through World War II worker housing and shipyard railway to recent nature restoration. 2.5-mile walk is level, but two blocks of trail are not suitable for strollers or wheelchairs. Contact: Reserve a space by calling (510) 848-0181, between 1 pm and 4 pm on Thursday or Friday before the tour; or go to http://www.cityofberkeley.info/histsoc/#EVENTS

November 17, Saturday, 10 a.m. to noon

Berkeley’s Downtown Parks: Real, Envisioned, and Vanished.

Co-sponsored by the Berkeley Historical Society and led by Steve Finacom & Linda Perry. Downtown Berkeley is a commercial, transportation, and civic hub, with a hidden history of open space. Learn of Civic Center Park and the vanished park in Shattuck Square, and fountains that once ran down the center of Shattuck Avenue. In celebration of the Centennial of Berkeley’s public park system, we’ll visit all these sites, as well as sites of proposed open spaces that never were. Contact: Reserve a space by calling (510) 848-0181, between 1 pm and 4 pm on Thursday or Friday before the tour; or go to http://www.cityofberkeley.info/histsoc/#EVENTS