The LeRoy Steps Safety Project received $7,160 to improve pedestrian lighting on historic LeRoy Steps, a heavily used shortcut north of the UC Berkeley campus. With an additional recent $1500 grant from PG&E for the project, the neighborhood group will be able to make this busy shortcut north of the UC Berkeley campus more attractive and safer.

The Greening Berkeley Coalition received $5000 to continue their partnership with UC Berkeley’s CalCorps. The partnership brings student volunteers into the community to work hands-on on outdoor “greening” projects, while helping to pay for materials. The Coalition in 2010 includes Aquatic Park EGRET, Berkeley Path Wanderers, CHIA, East Bay GPA, Friends of Five Creeks, Friends of Grotto Rock Park, Presentation Park Partners, and Schoolhouse Creek Common.

Date: Sunday, July 25th

Time: 12:00-3:00

Location: King Park tot area (Hopkins Street at Colusa in North Berkeley)

Please join the Friends of King Park for a community picnic Sunday, July 25th. Sponsored by the Berkeley Covenant Church, this family-friendly event will include food, a bouncy house, face painting, a “Create with Nature Zone” led by Environmental Artist Zach Pine, planting activities and old-fashioned games. Visit the information table to get a sneak peak at the collaborative mural project and find out more about proposed park improvements.

The picnic will be held at King Park, located on Hopkins Street at Colusa, between the tennis courts, King Swim Center, and the track.

To find out how you can help support our neighborhood park, contact jeanine_strickland@yahoo.com

See you there!

Join Friends of Five Creeks volunteers at a “walking work party” 10 AM – 12:30 PM Sat., July 10. Learn about history and restoration plans while you help make Berkeley’s waterfront into the park it should be!

Meet at the beach at the mouth of Strawberry Creek, behind Sea Breeze Deli 598 University. This is just west of I-880/580. AC Transit 51B stops across the street, or walk or bike on the Bay Trail or via the pedestrian/bicycle bridge over the freeway.

All welcome! Water, tools, gloves, and snacks provided. Dress for sun, wind, or fog. More information at www.fivecreeks.org or f5creeks@aol.com.

The 8th annual Hidden Gems of Berkeley bike ride explores the curious, quirky, and crafted features and grassroots greening initiatives that make Berkeley unique — this year in Berkeley’s charming Northbrae and Westbrae neighborhoods. Meet at the North Berkeley Branch Library, 1170 The Alameda and Hopkins, 10 AM Sat., May 15. The leisurely ride on level and gently sloping terrain ends at 1 PM. Bring lunch, water, and the family — great for children over 10. The event is free; updated Hidden Gems of Berkeley maps available for $5 donation. Sponsored by Berkeley Partners for Parks, Livable Berkeley, East Bay Green Tours, and Bicycle Friendly Berkeley Coalition; led by John Coveney, Marlene Fouche, and originator John Steere (for information contact John at 510 849 1969).

Come and take part in a Painting a Participatory Mural

as a community-based Vision for the South Berkeley Santa Fe Right of Way!

Saturday, April 24 anytime from 10 am to 3 pm

At the Frances Albrier Community Center  in  San Pablo Park (2800 Park St, Berkeley)

SPONSORS of the Santa Fe “Mobile Mural” Project: Berkeley Community Gardening Collaborative (BCGC), Berkeley Partners for Parks (BPFP); Office of Council member Darryl Moore in cooperation with the City of Berkeley, Parks, Recreation and Waterfront Department

FUNDED by: UC Chancellors Partnership Grant

Conveners: John Steere (BPFP), Beebo Turman (BCGC), Alan Leon (Community based muralist); Julie Hamilton (lecturer, UC Berkeley Art Practices Dept.) and the students in her community arts class.

You are warmly invited to help paint a vision for the revitalization of the South Berkley Santa Fe Right of Way (ROW) as a multi-purpose greenway and linear commons.   For Earth Day, for a greener community, and for yourself –  come to our third Mural Workshop, for as little or as long as you like — on April 24, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.  You will have the chance to collaboratively create one of two murals that will be hung on the Santa Fe ROW fences when done.  Choose between: 1) painting in the outlines of a vision of the past and future for one mural; or 2) creating a mixed media mural with collage and painted dimensions you can contribute to!

BRING: Your enthusiasm and open mind;  and if you can, photographs (or photocopies of photos), drawings, and other mementos of the people, places, or objects that conjure up feelings and memories of your neighborhood and contribute to your sense of community.  These can be incorporated into the mural directly, or can be used as inspiration for on-the-spot drawings to be incorporated in the mural.

Lunch and snacks will be provided.

Please R.S.V.P. to  Beebo Turman at beebot@pacbell.net or 527-3773, as we need to know how many are coming to plan for paints and food.

This will be a Creative Day for all, please come!

Friends of Five Creeks and Transition Albany invite you to enjoy Cerrito Creek and Albany Hill on a spring evening, celebrating the 40th anniversary of Earth Day. Meet at 6 PM at Peet’s Coffee, San Pablo and Carlson, El Cerrito; wear long pants and sleeves (poison oak) and sturdy hiking shoes with good traction; bring sticks if you use them. This two-hour exploration of rare urban wilderness with fascinating history will cross the creek on stepping stones and gain 300′ elevation on moderately steep, narrow dirty trails — with refreshments at the top! Information at www.fivecreeks.org, f5creeks@aol.com, 510 848 9358.

Tour green buildings and pioneering “green economy” businesses, meet leaders in sustainability, learn about healthy resources, and enjoy a day-long seminar on wheels with Bay Area Green Tours and the Oakland Museum’s Natural Science Build, 9 AM – 4 PM Thursday, May 6; cost $90. Bring bag lunch or enjoy no-host lunch at a restaurant that supports local farmers. Information and sign-up at www.ebgt.org.

May 14 is the deadline for applying for 2010′s UC Berkeley Chancellor’s Community Partnership Fund grants — awards of $5,000 to $50,000 for projects to enhance community safety and livability (a priority this year), environmental stewardship, education, and arts and culture.

Grants are for community groups partnered with UC faculty, staff, or students. Proposals must come from a legal nonprofit organization, but if you have a good idea and a few supporters, you can find a fiscal agent. BPFP, for example, serves as fiscal agent to large and small groups dealing with parks, outdoors, recreation, beautification, environment, and the like. We have received numerous grants from the Chancellor’s Fund and can help with practical advice, including how to find a UC partner. Please get in touch with us! (See the “contact us” page.)

Projects should be completed in one or at most two years. They must be in Berkeley. Keep in mind what permits and approvals you may need — funds won’t be handed out until they are obtained. Reasonable stipends can be paid, e.g. if the project needs experts.

For UC’s press release, with links to information and application forms, click here.