UC Berkeley Seeks Public’s Views To Plan New Path For People’s Park

http://www.ci.berkeley.ca.us/news/print.asp?id=23702
UC Berkeley is coming up with a plan to change People’s Park into something more hip and accessible. To deal with the homeless problem in the park, the University is planning to work with the city of Berkeley on services such as homeless outreach programs. Apparently the key issue in changing the park is to get people to want to use it, without excluding anyone. In addition to wireless Internet and wellness seminars, a recent report suggests adding a skateboard ramp, playground and well-lit pathways, thinning the vegetation, upgrading the stage and bathrooms, improving the community garden and somehow honoring the park’s role in Berkeley history. Any changes are at least one year away but it is good that the University is looking into integrating a key piece of Berkeley back into the community by attempting to make the park accessible to everybody.