Ruby Chang, 96, swept up on North Path in September.
About 60 volunteers, ranging in age from 13 to 96, weeded, swept, and cleared the way on 6 paths this summer.
The 8 work parties that it took to clear the paths were led by Mary Lynch, who has organized weekday parties monthly since 2015, and former BPWA president Alina Constantinescu, who began leading weekend work parties this year.
Sydney Dowdy, age 13 and a student at Prospect Sierra, weeded, swept, and fixed the steps on Betty Olds Path with his mother, Signe Burns, in July and August.
“I used a mallet to hammer in spikes on the steps. The different forces underground can cause them to rise,” Dowdy says. “I enjoyed being part of a community and helping others. I’m definitely going to do it more in the future.”
Sydney Dowdy, 13, demonstrates how he hammers down spikes (shown on Ina Coolbrith Path, near his house).
Constantinescu says that working on North Path with Ruby Chang, age 96, “made my day.”
“Ruby let me know that she was born the same year as the Queen but is in fact older than her,” Constantinescu says. “From 13 year olds to 96 and beyond, the paths have the best caretakers!”
Lynch, who has led more than 100 work parties, notes that volunteers are welcome to “adopt” a path to maintain, as Marc Rumminger (Visalia Walk). BPWA board member John Ford (Upton Lane), and Sydney Dowdy and his parents Signe Burns and Johan Dowdy (Ina Coolbrith Path) have done.
“The City of Berkeley Parks Department picks up piles of weeds for us,” Lynch says. “So, anyone who is considering adopting a path need not worry about disposal of weeds.”
Anyone who would like to adopt a path or receive notification of upcoming work parties can write to Lynch at path.maintenance@berkeleypaths.org. Work parties are also listed in BPWA’s monthly newsletter.
It took Mary Lynch and 13 volunteers two work parties to clean up the very long (and very weedy!) Wilson Walk in June. Photo: Mary Ross Lynch
Wilson Walk - after. Photo: Mary Ross Lynch
In July, six volunteers, including Judy Kysh and Bob Milbourne, cleared Anne Brower Path. Photo: Mary Lynch
Eleven volunteers worked on Lower Glendale in August. Francesca Verdier, left, is especially fond of tackling thistle. Photo: Mary Lynch
Alina Constinescu (foreground) with volunteers, left to right, Wendy Salem, Judy Kysh, Glen Lindwall, Dani Terry, Ginny Preston, Lori Kohlstaedt, cleared Poplar Path in June. Photo: Alina Constantinescu
It took 2 work parties to clear Betty Olds Path. Photo: Alina Constantinescu
Carlene Chang and Alina Constantinescu carry weeds to the bottom of Betty Olds Path, where they will be collected by the Berkeley Public Works Department. Photo: Gregg Gorrin
Bottom to top, Signe Burns, Rochelle Blumenfeld, Sydney Dowdy, and Madeleine Kahn weeded on Betty Olds Path. Photo: Gregg Gorrin