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In case you ever wondered about the folks who make BPWA a vital organization, here’s a brief rundown on who we are and what we do. And if you’re ever tempted to join our efforts, we’re always looking for new board members! Read More
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We have a few new opportunities for involvement on the BPWA board! We’re looking for a Social Media Manager to create strategy and post weekly on our Facebook and Instagram accounts. We’ll also soon have an opening for a Writer/Editor who will create content and upload our monthly newsletter. Please email us at info@berkeleypaths.org to find out more about these ways to engage with us.
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Last month we received this lovely note of gratitude from some path wanderers. It serves as a reminder that there are many ways to support BPWA—both with financial contributions and by volunteering your time! “I want you to know how much my husband and I appreciate your recent work on Alta Vista Path. We walk up it several days a week. The steps, as you know, had become a safety hazard with all the plant debris and the constant water that was bringing down mud and rotting the plant matter. It is usually the beginning of our walk, and it was always the unpleasant part of it. “Now, since your cleaning, what a pleasure! The walk is so clean, it is a delight. Thank you so much for your hard work. I am sure it wasn't easy and sure was messy. “We wish we could participate with you in your work. However, our ages and health issues make that impossible for us. So, instead, we will send a donation to the address on your website. As oldsters, we prefer to make the payment by check. “Thanks again. You are really appreciated by us.”
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PATH MAINTENANCE WORK PARTIES
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Join us for a path maintenance work party!Sunday, August 10, 10 a.m. to noon Thursday, August 14, 10 a.m. to noon Wednesday, August 20, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Do you enjoy working with your hands and seeing tangible results of your efforts? Join us to clean up Berkeley’s paths, work that’s mostly weeding, sweeping, raking, and clipping. We will have gloves and tools available, but feel free to bring your own. Please also bring your own water, as we won't be offering water or refreshments. Please RSVP to receive an email confirming the meeting place by writing to our path maintenance team at path.maintenance@berkeleypaths.org. |
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Note: Heavy rain cancels. If rain is in the forecast, check the www.berkeleypaths.org website the day before to see if the walk is cancelled.
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When: Friday, August 8 from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m.
Leader: Alina Constantinescu
Start/end: Inspiration Point, Tilden Park. Meet at the start of the paved Nimitz Way trail.
Distance/elevation gain: 4.5 miles, 450 feet
Accessibility: Steep trails. Sorry, no dogs allowed on this route. We will walk along the paved Nimitz Way trail for 2 miles and then head up a short but rather steep 0.25-mile fire road to Wildcat Peak. We'll reach the peak about an hour into the hike and take a long break to watch the sun set and the full moon rise. Read More |
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When: Saturday, August 9 from 10 a.m. to noon
Leader: Emma Morris
Start/end: Great Stoneface Rock Park, corner of San Fernando Ave. and Yosemite Rd.
Distance/elevation gain: 1.5 miles, 200 feet
Accessibility: A minimum level of fitness is required to complete the entire walk. There are no restrooms on the route. Take advantage of a unique opportunity to join a leisurely walk and a conversation with Shoshana O'Keefe, Berkeley District 5 Councilmember. The group will spend the first 15 minutes at the Great Stoneface Park for introductions and initial questions. Well-behaved dogs on leashes are allowed. Read More |
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When: Saturday, August 16 from 10 a.m. to noon
Leader: Rodney Paul
Start/end: Berkeley Public Library North Branch (1170 The Alameda, Berkeley). Note: the tour finishes 0.5 miles from the start. It's an easy walk back to the library, and the AC Transit 12 bus also goes there.
Distance/elevation gain: 1.6 miles, 100 feet
RSVP: Please register for the walk here. For most Americans, the term “suburbia” conjures single-family homes and uniform architecture in areas that are solely residential and reliant on car transportation. With its array of land uses and architectural styles, North Berkeley defies this stereotype; its differences are the qualities that make it great. Read More |
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When: Sunday, August 17 from 10:00 a.m. to noon
Leader: Rodney Paul
Start/end: 41 Somerset Place, Berkeley
Distance/elevation gain: 2 miles, 300 feet
Accessibility: The terrain includes some dirt paths that may be difficult for people using mobility devices. May not be ideally suited for children or dogs.
RSVP: Due to the small size of several parks, we are limiting the group to 25 people and are asking you to register for the walk. Millions of years before its first human inhabitants arrived, North Berkeley was strewn with fascinating rock formations. Today, the area includes a set of lovely parks where these remnants of its geologic past can be seen. Read More |
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When: Friday, August 22 from 5:30 to 8:00 p.m.
Leader: Alina Constantinescu
Start/end: Exedra Plaza, 972 Magnolia Ave., Piedmont
Distance/elevation gain: 4 miles, 700 feet, with staircases and steep sidewalks.
Accessibility: Many stairs and some uneven trails. Well-behaved dogs on leash are welcome. With apologies to those who missed July's hike because the wrong time was posted on our website, we’re reprising our hike through the beautiful city of Piedmont. The route goes through Piedmont Park and Dracena Park and, as we discovered on July's walk, by a bald eagle nest! Read More |
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When: Sunday, August 31 from 10 a.m. to noon
Leader: Rodney Paul
Start/end: Raxakoul Coffee & Cheese (299 Arlington Ave., Kensington). The tour finishes 0.8 miles from the start. It’s about a 20 min. walk back to Raxakoul, much of it uphill. It may be possible to arrange rides for those who need assistance getting back
Distance/elevation gain: 2 miles, 300 feet
Accessibility: Participants should have a level of fitness to comfortably ascend stairs and streets such as Coventry Ave. We will visit the set of walking paths in Kensington that go between streets and were originally created to facilitate access to streetcars and later buses. Rodney will talk about the history of the paths and efforts to secure public ownership by the Kensington Pathkeepers group he's involved in. Read More |
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NORTHBRAE WALKING TOUR BY FFW
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On Saturday, August 9, the Friends of the Fountain and Walk are offering a walking tour of the Northbrae neighborhood that’s home to Berkeley's Fountain at The Circle and Fountain Walk. Participants will learn about the history of the fountain and its whimsical grizzly bear cubs, Berkeley’s first public work of art; about these landmarks’ role in an ill-fated effort to make Berkeley the capital of California; and about the neighbor-led drive to restore the fountain and walk in the 1990s. The tour also includes a couple of paths. You can learn more about the event here and register for it here.
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Berkeley Path Wanderers Association
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Berkeley Path Wanderers Association is a community organization of people who treasure the public pathways that crisscross our city. Learn More
The BPWA board generally meets monthly. Please contact info@berkeleypaths.org for more information. We always welcome new volunteers to lead walks on Berkeley’s paths. If interested, please contact Walks Coordinator Tamara Gurin or Jen English at walks@berkeleypaths.org. To support Berkeley's paths, you can donate online. All donations are tax-deductible and go toward building new paths, repairing and clearing existing paths, purchasing handrails, and advocating for paths and walkers. |
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