Hands-on volunteer work by Berkeley Partners for Parks member groups has again been funded by the Chancellor’s Community Partnership Grant fund. The fund, set up by UC Berkeley in settlement of a lawsuit, funds nonprofits that partner with UC Berkeley students, faculty, and staff to benefit the Berkeley area.
BPFP groups who will share $4000 include Aquatic Park EGRET, Berkeley Path Wanderers Assn., East Bay Green Parks Assn., Friends of Five Creeks, Schoolhouse Creek Common, and Westbrae Commons. Operating as the Greening Berkeley Hands on coalition, these groups host thousands of UC students volunteers at their work parties. They have received a grant every year since 2006, when the Chancellor’s Grant project began.
BPFP also will serve as fiscal sponsor for funding for the Berkeley Project, which brings thousands of UC students into the community to volunteer on specific days.
For more than a decade, Mark Liolios has worked to transform Aquatic Park into great habitat for herons, egrets, shorebirds, native plants — and people! On September 13, the Trust for Public Land, with Cox Enterprises, has named him one of five “Cox Conserves Heroes” for the Bay Area for 2010! See the Sept. 14 story on www.Berkeleyside.com!
Mark and four other finalists receive $1,250 for the nonprofit of their choice — and Mark has chosen Berkeley Partners for Parks! If Mark gets the most online votes, BPFP will get a total of $5,000!
Join us Sunday, Jan 18th from 11am to 2pm at the historic Berkeley Aquatic Park to help us restore and revive this precious local resource. Bring your family, friends and neighbors for an afternoon of landscaping, cleanup, trail reclamation, habitat restoration and a bit of history. The Aquatic Park is Berkeley’s largest park and was built in 1935 as part of the original WPA project. Join us in renewing our commitment to our community as we embark on a NEW New Deal!
If you would like to sponsor a tree planing (for $20) in honor of MLK, the Inauguration, or a special person in your life, please email aquaparkcleanup@gmail.com .
This cleanup event is part of the Nation Weekend of Service (Jan 17-19) in honor of MLK and the upcoming Inauguration. Citizens like you are hosting dozens of community service events all weekend long. To see more events near you, or create your own event go to: http://www.usaservice.org/
Berkeley Path Wanderers: New Year’s waterfront walk , Saturday, January 3, 10 a.m. View wintering waterfowl and discover how Berkeley beaches are rebuilding themselves. Binoculars are recommended. Walk is leisurely and level but not wheelchair accessible. Optional coffee/tea stop at Sea Breeze Deli. Meet at Shorebird Nature Center, 160 University Ave. (South side, west of Adventure Playground). f5creeks@aol.com , 510 848 9358, www.berkeleypaths.org
