BPWA 1442A Walnut St, #269 Dedicated to the creation, preservation and restoration of public paths, steps and walkways in Berkeley for the use and enjoyment of all. Berkeley, CA 94709 www.berkeleypaths.org Special Summer Event Sunday, July 24 PICK-A-PATH PICNIC • BPWA members and their friends are invit- ed to select one of several self-guided path walks and then to gather at Codornices Park from noon onwards for a picnic. The walk routes, picnic location, and other details will be available at www.berkeleypaths.org (Click on Pick-a-Path Picnic Day under Events.) A Newsletter of the Berkeley Path Wanderers Association Summer 2005 Vol. 8 No. 2 Path Walks RAIN OR SHINE Walk the Ohlone Greenway -- Discover its Exhibits 10:00 am (allow 2-3 hours) Walks are free and all are invited to attend. Many BPWA members keep Peralta Garden is the beginning of Saturday Walks mainly to paths in the hills. A the history exhibits, an adobe gate- July 9 Explore Lower Cerrito Creek nice change of pace is the Ohlone way posted with the Spanish history and Albany Hill - Susan Schwartz - 848- Greenway, a long pathway of more of the area. 9358 [email protected] • Meet at the north than three miles that is wide, flat Walking north, you will see end of Cornell St., south edge of El Cerrito Plaza (near Trader Joe’s). An easy walk to explore history and paved. Although the path the efforts of California Habitat and restoration of Cerrito Creek and Albany Hill. stretches from Ohlone Park (at Indigenous Activists to transform August A Saturday Walk Hearst and MLK) in Berkeley the borders of the path into the To be announced • Please watch our web site. through Albany and El Cerrito to original native Coastal Prairie. September 10 Wildlife, History, and Richmond, our focus is the part in These volunteers collect and plant Future of the Berkeley Waterfront the Westbrae section of Berkeley, seeds to create a beautiful native Susan Schwartz - 848-9358 - F5creeks@aol. com • Meet at Sea Breeze Market, University Avenue the Ohlone Greenway Natural and landscape. A bit further on, notice just west of the freeway. The meadow restoration Cultural History Interpretative the cow sculptures together with and new trails should be open. Exhibit. tractor seats, a testament to the First Wednesday Walks Noteworthy points begin near area’s agricultural era. the intersection of Hopkins and Some of the artwork, done July 6 East Bay Regional Parks Botanic Garden, Tilden Park Peralta Streets, where the BART here by contemporary artists, was Robert Mackler and Jacque Ensign - 524-4715 tracks become elevated. Close to inspired by the Ohlone Tribe, who • Meet at the entrance to the Tilden Botanic this intersection are three City of were believed to be Berkeley’s first Garden. Two docents will give a tour. Call to regis- ter; limited to 20 participants. Berkeley Community Gardens – the inhabitants. Note the long mural, August 3 A Scenic Historic Richmond Karl Linn, Peralta, and Northside. from Elk Tracks to BART Tracks, Bay Trail Walk - Bruce and Sandra Beyaert The public is welcome to enjoy the a colorful display of the area’s - 235-2835 - [email protected] gardens when they are open, usu- modes of transport from pre-history • Meet at Shimada Park. Exit I-580 on Marina Bay ally on weekends. Just outside the onwards. Parkway and drive toward the Bay. In about one mile, enter parking lot of Shimada park on left. This one-block section of the Enjoy a 3-mile level walk to visit exhibits in Rosie Ohlone Greenway, together with the Riveter Historic Park. the adjacent community gardens, is September 7 Back to School Walk a beautiful public space created by Barbara Robben - 524-2383 • Meet at Live Oak many volunteers over the last six Park on west side of building by playground. Easy walk to visit local schools. years, with funding from the City of Berkeley and BART. Meetings If you need a break from trudg- LIVE OAK RECREATION CENTER ing up and down the paths and 1301 SHATTUCK AVENUE stairs in the hills, come and enjoy August 18 - 7:00 p.m. - Board Meeting the Ohlone Greenway. • Business meeting open to all BPWA members. --Mary Lynch Ohlone Greenway Artwork Please turn over for more news... BPWA 1442A Walnut Street, #269 Berkeley, CA 94709 Board Members EMMA MORRIS, chair PAT DE VITO, archivist JACQUE ENSIGN, BPWA map SUE FERNSTROM, treasurer LISA FRIEDEN SANDY FRIEDLAND, outreach/publicity ELEANOR GIBSON, membership PAUL MAHEU, scouts liaison *PRESCOTT COLE, events *MARY LYNCH, path improvement *MARILYN SIEGEL, secretary/walks *WILL SCHIEBER, newsletter/website *BARBARA WEST, accounts * new member, 2005 Meet the Paths: Eucalyptus Path -- Challenges, Charms, and Panoramas Although most of Berkeley’s and fire fighters hauled hoses up Willow Walk. When you reach #277 paths are on the Northside, twenty- and down it. Although many houses Alvarado Road, turn right and con- two stairways and footpaths grace on Alvarado were lost, on the path tinue down to your starting point. its Southside. One of my favorites, just the deck of #36 burned. Whichever direction you choose, the challenging Eucalyptus Path, A series of double steps and you will enjoy the blend of new is actually in Oakland. The lower short ramps comprise the first third and old in this delightful Berkeley- entrance to the path is above the of the path. Catch your breath on Oakland neighborhood. Claremont Hotel at the intersection the bench at #27, where a pittos- -- Sandy Friedland of Alvarado and Alvarado Court porum creeps over the trellis and (Hotel Place on the BPWA map). matching gate. To your right is This path is long and steep, but its Sunset Trail, one of a few level paths 139 steps are lined with handrails in the Berkeley hills. Wander it for and punctuated with ramps. some spectacular glimpses of the Bay beyond the lower fences. Walk the Ohlone Greenway -- Discover its Exhibits Returning to Eucalyptus, don’t miss the rustic gate at #36. At #44, completed in 2002, marvel at the elaborately carved doors, gate, and pillars from a former mosque in Pakistan. Numbers 43 and 51 are tucked along an interesting brick and concrete walk. As you near Gate on Alvarado Road the summit, pink camellias, jumbo lemons, climbing roses, and wiste- ria cascade over fences. Return to Eucalyptus Path Alvarado Road under the arching $$ Your Donations Appreciated $$ If you take the path up, which tangles of cotoneaster and weigela. Many thanks to those of you who I recommend, you’ll get a workout. Once your pulse rate returns have sent in contributions for path- Rest stops will let you enjoy the Bay to normal, you can descend to building expenses—we appreciate views behind you and the eclectic your starting point by one of your support enormously. As you can houses, gardens, and gates on both two routes. The first takes you see from the report on new paths we sides. Eucalyptus Path provides the left on Alvarado. Veer left onto have built, we are putting the money to good use. We still need donations, only access for residents, guests, Slater Lane, and go left again onto so if you would like to contribute, and groceries of nine houses located Evergreen Lane. At the cul-de-sac, tear off the form below and mail it, along it. Six are nearly one hundred take Evergreen Path back to lower with your check, to us. years old. During the firestorm, the Alvarado. Alternatively, turn right path was a key evacuation route, onto Alvarado and right again onto Progress Report: New Paths This Year... See a missing sign or graffiti? This year has been our most built concrete stairway at the bot- • Please report missing path signs to prolific year yet of path-building. tom end and several of our own Sandy Friedland, [email protected] We started in January by put- BPWA work parties. The three • Graffiti can be reported to the city by ting a few finishing touches on Glendale Paths will be an impor- calling 644-6620. Wilson Walk. By early February, tant link in a critical recreation we cleared and installed steps and evacuation route for this For more information about our on Columbia Walk. The lower area. Acacia Steps was also com- activities, please see our web site at: end was completed by an Eagle pleted, thanks to another Eagle www.berkeleypaths.org Scout project in April. We were Scout project, followed up by a very pleased to complete work recent BPWA work party. If you have any concerns about path issues, please e-mail us at on Lower Glendale Path by the We are now working on Upper [email protected] beginning of April. This path has Covert Path. We invite you to benefited from two Eagle Scout watch it develop as the summer BPWA is a member of Berkeley Partners for projects in March, plus a city- progresses. -- Charlie Bowen Parks, a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization. Annual membership in Berkeley Path Please print clearly Wanderers Association is $5.00 per house- BPWA Donation/Membership Form hold, due January 1st of each year. Donations are always welcome. Benefits Name include a newsletter and BPWA mailings. Mail this form with check or money order, Address City Zip code payable to: Berkeley Path Wanderers Association E-mail Telephone number 1442A Walnut St., #269, I would like to donate $_________ for path-building Berkeley, CA 94709 My check includes $5.00 for a new membership renewal membership.