Berkeley Partners for Parks » Friends of Westbrae Commons

‘Hidden Gems’ bike tour explores the ‘Breas.

fivecreeks — Sun, 02 May 2010 00:01:28 +0000

May 15, 2010
10:00 am	to	1:00 pm

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).

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UC Berkeley funding for BPFP “Greening Berkeley” partners

fivecreeks — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 04:11:20 +0000

For the third year in a row, BPFP’s “Greening Berkeley Hands On” partnership has been awarded a Chancellor’s Community Partnership Fund grant by UC Berkeley. This year’s award of $24,000 will help BPFP affiliates carry out a wide variety of hands-on environmental projects. The grant pays for both materials and a UC student intern, who organized student volunteering through CalCorps, UC’s public-service arm.

Projects in the 2008 grant range from path construction and a solar light for the Santa Fe Right of Way, projects of Berkeley Path Wanderers, to tools and gloves for the city’s 14 public-school gardens, through Friends of School Gardens. The community-built Schoolhouse Creek Common will install chess tables and a bench. Nearby, Friends of Westbrae Commons will continue transforming the Ohlone Greenway south of Gilman with native coastal-prairie plants. Friends of Shorebird Park Nature Center will spread fresh sand and build new racks at Adventure Playground, while Aquatic Park EGRET will get upgraded nataive plants and upgraded wheelbarrows. Friends of Five Creeks will be able to install signs on local natural history and plant drought-tolerant natives in a variety of sites, from the Santa Fe Right of Way to Mortar Rock Park.

Aquatic Park EGRET also will partner with Earth Team Environmental Network, Berkeley Community Media, College of Natural Resources, and Berkeley Community Garden to involve local teens in habitat restoration days that teens also will film for showing on local cable TV. This project received a $5000 Chancellors Community Partnership grant.

Join us to carry out these projects! Contact BPFP or the affiliate group you are interested in — click on “Affiliated Groups” at right.

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Annual update of 2007 Activities

Lee Trampleasure — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 15:02:45 +0000

Our annual Update highlights activities of BPFP and our affiliate groups from 2007:

High resolution (PDF: 9.7 MB) (recommended for those with high speed internet access)
screen resolution (PDF: 0.15 MB) (recommended for those with dial-up internet connections).

From the Board introduction:

We are hopeful the energizing power of partnerships will become a theme of the 21st century. Around the world individuals are organizing in their local areas to improve their lives, and Berkeley Partners for Parks is a leader in those efforts in our community.

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Musical Block Party at Peralta Community Garden

Web Weaver — Sun, 16 Sep 2007 21:00:07 +0000

September 16, Sunday, 1 to 5 p.m.
Musical Block Party at Peralta Community Garden � hosted by the Friends of Westbrae Commons:
(Meet at 1400 Peralta Avenue, by the corner of Hopkins)
Celebration of 3 Community Gardens. Peralta Community Garden, Karl Linn, and Northside plus Ohlone Greenway and Berkeley Eco House. Afternoon will include a workshop on traffic management at Peralta/Hopkins intersection, plus food and music. Contact: Neil Collier 510-524-2671 or nacollier AT pacbell DOT net

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10th anniversary of the Westbrae Neighborhood

Web Weaver — Sun, 17 Sep 2006 22:00:30 +0000

Come celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Westbrae Neighborhood Commons. Enjoy Food, Live Music, and Tile Painting and more!
Music by: KC Jiang (harmonica), the Swing Monkeys (acoustric trio), and Michael Wilson & friends (acoustic quartet)
A brief program will be held at 2:45

Date: Sunday, September 17
Time: 2-5 p.m.
Place: Peralta Community Garden (on Peralta between Hopkins St. & Gilman St.)
Cost: Free
Wheelchair accessible

The Westbrae Neighborhood Commons includes the Peralta, Northside, and Karl Linn Community Gardens, the Ohlone Greenway Natural and Cultural History Exhibit, and the Berkeley EcoHouse. These unique community spaces feature artwork and eco-friendly technologies amidst lush vegetable gardens and native California vegetation. A network of beautiful common spaces invites visitors to enjoy nature and each other’s company. A testament to the spirit of community, these commons were created and are maintained by volunteers and neighbors.

See you there!
Nicole Becker, coordinator
Friends of the Westbrae Commons

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Westbrae Commons- Ohlone Greenway & Peralta/Northside Gardens: November 2005

Web Weaver — Sun, 20 Nov 2005 20:31:45 +0000

This year, representatives of the four projects formed a new umbrella organization, the Friends of the Westbrae Commons. The group hosted an exciting party and raffle in August and is working to raise funds to benefit the gardens and greenway. At the end of 2004, the Ohlone Natural and Cultural History Interpretive Exhibit dedicated it�s latest addition, the Ohlone People�s Exhibit. The installation features an artful bench and �Hairpin� sculpture collaboratively designed and built by local and Native American artists. A memorial bench in honor of Karl Linn has been added to the Peralta Garden, and planning is progressing on the future plaza at the corner of Gilman Street and the greenway. For more information call Nicole Becker at 510-798-8148.

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