Trekker News - September 2021


 

Trail Trekkers had a great time the last time we had a members’ barbecue at Arlington Park, back in 2019. Photo by Tim Aaronson

Enjoy our Members’ Appreciation Barbecue. Please attend Trekkers’ barbecue to meet some of the most interesting people around, learn about trails and open space, enjoy chicken, grilled vegetables, a range of beverages, and desserts. Bring food and beverages if you wish, but we will have plenty. 

The event is Saturday, October 16, 2021, from 5 p.m. to 7 or so, and is open to members. Not a member? Or not sure if your membership is current? Join – or re-join – at the event. Family membership is $20 annually, and we appreciate our members! New members will receive trail maps.

We will gather at Picnic Area One, Arlington Park, El Cerrito. Adults must be vaccinated.

Park and Recreation Commission adds urban trail and open space goals to their work plan. In what we see as a major step forward for open space and trails in El Cerrito, this important commission at its August meeting agreed that improving the publicly owned paths and stairs that are outside of the Hillside Natural Area is an important goal that should be accomplished.

Until now, various city open space and recreation documents have indicated that these paths -- some of which are impassable – are important. But this acknowledgement has never led to action.

Being on the park and recreation work plan should lead to actual scheduling of improvements to these trails. Some of the trails can be improved and made passable by volunteers. Others will require stairs or other public works improvements and should be handled by professionals.

The commission will send recommendations to the City Council about this matter. Trekkers would like the council to recognize the importance of these urban paths for recreation, transit, and emergency purposes.

Trekkers hopes to work with the city on outreach to the community, to assuage concerns of people who live near paths that are impassable today but should be made passable in the future. Many people throughout town and in neighboring cities already happily live along such pathways, much as people live in proximity to sidewalks and streets.

Knott Trail would run straight up this hill, between the fence lines. It would provide an easy route for hill dwellers to get to the BART station and other amenities along the avenue. The city owns the route. Trekkers would like it to be usable for the benefit of the entire community. Other impassable trails dot our city’s hillside neighborhoods. Photo by Dave Weinstein

Are you wondering which impassable trails we mean? One is the “Knott Trail,” which runs from Harper Street down a steep hill to Hagen Boulevard at Knott Avenue. This trail will need either steps or treads to make it passable. It would be a convenient route to the Del Norte BART, a valuable disaster route, and a great workout for walkers.

See other such trails, which are all shown as dotted lines, on the Trail Trekker citywide trail map. The map can be purchased, as detailed below.

In addition, the Park and Recreation Commission added this provision to their work plan: “Explore opportunities to support open space acquisition.” Trail Trekkers hopes to eventually add the privately owned Fairview Open Space,” and perhaps other parcels, to the city’s protected open spaces.

Take part in the next Baxter Creek Work Party on October 3, 10 a.m. to noon. Please join city staff and other volunteers at Baxter Creek Gateway Park in this jewel on the Ohlone Greenway. The activities will include litter removal, invasive plant removal and native plant care. 

All ages are welcome (under 18 with guardian). Please wear long sleeves, long pants, and closed-toe shoes. Bring water. The city will provide tools, bags, gloves, and sanitizer. There are no bathrooms at the park. We will meet at 10 a.m. at Conlon Avenue and the Ohlone Greenway. RSVP by email or phone: cbennett@ci.el-cerrito.ca.us  or 510-215-4350

Baxter Creek Gateway Park Volunteer Days take place on the first Sunday of each month, except during major holiday weekends, in which case we will meet the following Sunday -- here is the schedule for the rest of 2021:  October 3, November 7, December 5 (with Green Teams).

Buy our El Cerrito Trail Map. The second edition of this map is available at three stores, Jenny K , Builders Booksource on Fourth Street in Berkeley, and Pegasus books on Solano Avenue.

Or you can buy a map from us or get one “free” by joining Trail Trekkers. Send $6 for a map to our treasurer, Pam Austin, 834 Kearny St., EC, 94530

Have you renewed your membership? It only costs $20 annually to belong to Trekkers, and $1,000 buys a life membership. Please renew now or join by going to our website and downloading the membership form.

And consider an additional donation as well. Funds go for trail work, to install trail signs, for a fund to purchase additional open space, as well as incidental expenses. Donations are tax deductible as allowed by law.

Trekkers thanks new and renewing members and donors:

Rochelle Richardson
Mark Mendell
John McAfee
Jim and Andia Rasmussen
Barbara Liepman

El Cerrito Trail Trekkers board of directors:
Dave Weinstein, president, davidsweinstein@yahoo.com
Wade Huntley, vice president
Barbara Lass, secretary barbara.lass@att.net
Pam Austin, treasurer, paustin26@yahoo.com
Clare Sheridan, member at large, claresher@gmail.com
Melissa Hobbs, member at large, melma39@yahoo.com