Berkeley’s paths and stairways take walkers along some of the city’s prettiest neighborhoods and streets. But there’s one that might well surpass all the others in terms of history and architectural interest: If you’re looking for a path to share with visitors to demonstrate the richness of Berkeley’s culture, look no further than Rose Walk.
Indian Rock is one of many volcanic rhyolite rock outcroppings found across the Bay Area that are estimated to have occurred between nine and eleven million years ago. Anyone who has climbed the steep steps in its face has also seen the depressions of mortar holes still evident here, especially in the aptly named Mortar Rock, where the Ohlone people used the bedrock as a grinding surface for food and medicine.
Saturday, September 21, 2024 offered a beautiful “Second Summer” day as about 40 people gathered to attend the annual meeting of the Berkeley Path Wanderers Association at Live Oak Park. The event followed a well-attended morning Path-a-thon.
Berkeley’s paths and stairways take walkers along some of the city’s prettiest neighborhoods and streets. But there’s one that might well surpass all the others in terms of history and architectural interest: If you’re looking for a path to share with visitors to demonstrate the richness of Berkeley’s culture, look no further than Rose Walk.
As you walk or hike along Berkeley’s paths, consider the terrain: if you’re using concrete steps or walkways, they were probably part of the path’s original construction. If you see wooden steps, however, it’s likely that the pathway has been built by BPWA’s devoted path-building crew, which has worked for more than 20 years to bring Berkeley’s paths to a high level of safety.
On December 28, BPWA lost a beloved and valued member of our community. Jane Andersen, a licensed structural engineer, joined our board in July 2022 as the Emergency Services Coordinator. She also participated in coordination meetings with the city engineer, where her extensive engineering expertise and collaborative spirit were invaluable.
Indian Rock is one of many volcanic rhyolite rock outcroppings found across the Bay Area that are estimated to have occurred between nine and eleven million years ago. Anyone who has climbed the steep steps in its face has also seen the depressions of mortar holes still evident here, especially in the aptly named Mortar Rock, where the Ohlone people used the bedrock as a grinding surface for food and medicine.
BPWA welcomes two new board members: Nancy Graham, treasurer, and Jen English, walks co-coordinator. Three days a week Nancy, her husband, and dog, Dinky, get their aerobic exercise by walking uphill and hitting as many paths as possible. Jen joined the board in 2008 for her first term. Jen’s also been learning the ropes of emergency response, taking community emergency management (CERT) courses and other preparedness training and is excited to be involved with BPWA again because Berkeley's public paths and stairways are a key component of the city's emergency response network.
Steve Price is the El Cerrito-based author/artist of the digital book Imagining a Walkable America: Visualizing Low-Carbon Cities, Towns, and Neighborhoods, Step by Step. First published in 2020, it’s just been updated with a new introduction and fresh images to reflect the country’s changing transportation landscape.
Many who wander Berkeley’s paths are familiar with the name and work of Bernard Maybeck (although, surprisingly, there is no Maybeck Path). Fewer know about his friend and colleague Charles Keeler, who was nearly as influential in the prominent Arts and Crafts movement of the early twentieth century.
You might know Elsa from her longtime affiliation with the Berkeley Path Wanderers Association, serving on the board for four two-year terms from 2008 to 2016. She frequently uses both Acacia Walk and Acacia Steps, both of which are near her home, but her current favorite path is Halkin Walk, between Euclid and Hilldale Avenues.
John Ewing began recording on-the-ground 360-degree videos of walking and bicycling facilities in the East Bay and uploading them to Google Maps Street View. To date, he’s submitted nearly 100 miles of trails with about 250,000 views. His hope is that, by being able to see the actual appearance of these trails and paths, more people will choose to experience the world around them on foot or by bicycle.
Thanks to the generosity of supporters like you, the Berkeley Path Wanderers Association is going strong. 2023 was our 25th anniversary year, and we commemorated it in style! In addition to receiving a proclamation from the city council, we led a walk series traversing every path in Berkeley and hosted a celebration (below) at Live Oak Park for all of our friends and supporters.
On October 14, about 20 people gathered at the Berkeley Rose Garden to experience one of our most popular paths in a new way: listening to “graffiti poet” Leslie Reed read some of the 60+ original poems she’s inscribed on the “Running Fence” of Tamalpais Path. Reed has been writing on the redwood fence since 2019, transcribing verse that she channels from a higher source.
Twenty-two proud walkers completed our Every Path in Berkeley walk series and earned their “I Walked Every Path in Berkeley in 2023” pins. The 6-walk series covered 130 paths and 36 miles! The pins were awarded on August 6 at Live Oak Park, the finish line of the final walk, when the community met to celebrate the organization’s 25th anniversary.
In recognition of 25 years of mapping, constructing, and maintaining the public stairs and pathways, the Berkeley City Council issued a proclamation recognizing the Berkeley Path Wanderers Association’s community volunteer effort.
Under the leadership of Jeff Anderson, the Jeronimus Alley mural is now complete. “Three protective clear coats were applied, and the mural looks much brighter and fresher now,” says board member Tamara Gurin, who spearheaded the mural project for Berkeley Path Wanderers Association.
