Rocking and Rolling to the Finish on Upper Columbia Path

In our February blog post, we covered efforts to improve stormwater management for the benefit of public paths. Since then, our path building team has been hard at work improving Upper Columbia Path.

In the image above David Gyorke, our path building liaison, uses a Barreto Trencher to excavate a deep trench for two 4 inch drainpipes that will carry stormwater from Columbia Circle’s asphalt surface to the lower street. Because the cul-de-sac does not have any gutters, stormwater rushes down the pathway during heavy rain. The new pipes will prevent washed-out paths and saturated treads that are susceptible to dry rot and termite damage.

Upper Columbia Path is flanked by large eucalyptus trees, so the trencher bounced around as roots and rocks were unearthed. But our intrepid path builders David Gyorke, David Kittams, and Leo Rainer were not deterred, and the work continued with help from Sazalls and handsaws. Not shown is Breanna Alosi, who trenched with the best of them.

David Kittams putting final touches on the trench.

Leo Rainer unrolling and laying the drain with Walter Shi and Calvin Addison Lee.

We hope to have the work complete in the fall!

If you would like to help us with path building and improving, please sign up here or email pathbuilding@berkeleypaths.org.