People's Park loves you - El Parque del Pueblo te quiere. - Le Parc du peuple t'aime. - Mense se veld is lief vir jou - Mensen Park houdt van U. - Folkets Park alskar er - Menschen Park liebt dich - Park Ludzi kocha Cie - O Parque do Povo te ama

Welcome to a Celebration of People's Park!

People's Park 39th Anniversary Experimental Acoustic Jam and Potluck Extravaganza We are planning a Do It Yourself People's Park Anniversary Acoustic Blowout Jam and Potluck Extravaganza for this year's 39th celebration on Sunday April 27, 2008. The idea is to have multiple experiences going on at the same time that encourage more participation and less spectating. Visualize an old-time music jam, a poetry stage, puppet making and shows, square dancing, sing-a-longs, acoustic performances, art projects, group games, video showings, circuses, marching bands, political discourse, jump-rope, visioning ideas for People's Park, gardening projects, green living demonstrations, knitting workshops, miniature golf etc.. Please come to our weekly meetings to plan the anniversary: Sundays at 4:20 in the Park. Here's more information about what we need help with: anniversary tasks. And here's a flier for the event. And another one. Celebrate 39 years of sharing land and community. !Viva El Parque del Pueblo! Contact us at 510 658-9178 or just show up. MKThink's Draft Summary Report Notes on People's Park "Draft Summary Report" -- read the report here (20 M) by Terri Compost Here is the draft report from the architect firm that UC hired to do a "needs assessment" for People's Park. If you want to comment on it before it is "finalized" by MKThink, you should attend the next People's Park Advisory Board meeting on Monday Nov. 5, 2007 at 7pm at the Trinity Methodist Church at 2362 Bancroft / at Dana. The university says it will post the report on their website (?) and they said they will try to get it up by next week (Oct 14). They say they will also be taking comments by email. You could see a version without my comments written on it there. The Advisory Board seems to intend on having a comment period for the public sometime after their next meeting and after the opportunity to input before MKThink finalizes their report. It has yet to be seen which, if any, of these proposals the University (or the Advisory Board) may actually be interested in pursuing. In my mind the process was badly flawed in that it did nothing to begin a process of bringing the community together to find common ground for positive change. Instead the architects met with little specialty groups. We have yet to learn even who these groups were let alone what was said. The outreach focused primarily on people who do not now use the park and gave only token input to those who currently do use it. There were however some good ideas and It seems to me that there could be improvements made to the Park that would be helpful and agreed upon by most. For example: putting signs on Telegraph directing folks to the Park, a tiled artistic walk up Haste past the mural, adding lights to the mural, creating nicer entrances (archways, signs, art..), putting a historical info board into the park, getting help for people in the park who need and want it, housing the homeless, more seating, more diverse events...movies, yoga, art, theater, neighborhood picnics and swaps, gardening classes, children's activities etc. The report put our by MKThink does not really bring these up but instead reports their findings and gives sweeping suggestions. Go to the end where there are suggested sketches of the park to get a quick feel. There are several worrisome things, in my mind, in their report. They suggest putting buildings on the park in a couple of versions. This seems to me to be in blatant contradiction to the consensus of wanting it to remain green open space and foolish in light of the desperate need for this open space in a very packed neighborhood. Buildings are not open space. They are laying arguments to try to remove "services", i.e. free meals and sharing clothes (religious services, medical or psychological help) from the park by insisting it could only be done by "trained professional personnel". Lots of suggestions to remove plants and trees. Creating "sight-lines" and "hard-scaping" the corners are all threatening to the natural feel of the Park. Concepts of retaining flowering refuges from the city buzz, or wildlife habitat are not mentioned. They completely ignore the defining specialness of People's Park in that it was created and tended by volunteers in the community. Changes designed by professionals and implemented without the enthusiasm, if not by, the community are not in the spirit of the Park. I believe the Park can become friendlier, but positive change in this park must include all concerned and pay careful attention to process. Peace and Happy Parks, Terri Compost 10/6/07 Also see: What MKThink Missed (5.4 M). Victory! Over the bulldozers! University withdraws plans to bulldoze the Park edges! The University and the Police announced plans to bulldoze down the historic berms (hills) on both ends of the Community Garden. In order to let police see though the park without getting out of their cars they wanted to destroy the serenity, trees and plants, animal habitats, and our community's cooperative efforts. At the People's Park Community Advisory Board meeting on December 4th, it was announced that the plans to bulldoze the berms were "off the table". Thanks to all those who voiced their outrage at another heavy-handed attempt by the UC to exploit fears in order to take control of the Park! We Continue to Demand: No bulldozers in the Park! Changes to the Park must involve the community. Respect the natural environment. Save the oaks at the Stadium. Allow the freebox to be rebuilt. Democratize the UC Regents! An open letter to the advisory board. No bulldozers in People's Park, but the UC is still stepping on it's neighbors' toes! Information about the ongoing treesit. a response by Terri Compost: Hope for People's Park I would like to congragulate the community for coming out in support of People's Park. The University of California has stepped back from the foolish plan to bulldoze the edges of the Park. Thank you everyone. The standing room only crowd at the Advisory Board meeting on Dec 4th showed an active citizenry concerned about this special Park. And yes, there are a variety of ideas about what is best. I believe the spirit of People's Park is best served by promoting dialogue and finding the common ground for improving our park. I am looking for others to help organize bringing together different people in the spirit of real listening and sharing with the goal to come to common understandings and ideas. There are also at this time many positive suggestions for events at the Park that could help build community. Are there any takers out there who may be interested in organizing a jazz concert?, tea party?, book swap?, movie series?, art show?, yoga? etc. And lastly, I would like to invite anyone who has ideas or concerns with the community garden on the West end of the Park to come join the gardeners for a tour and idea sharing for improvements. If we can change our park through collective will and effort and the joyful work of volunteers, it will strengthen not only the history and uniqueness of People's Park, but our community as well. We want your participation. Please join us in the garden on Sunday Jan. 21, 2006 noon-4pm. (Jan 28th if it is raining). Again, anyone interested in organizing community dialogue can call or email me. Still Believing, Terri Compost 510 658-9178 terricompost@yahoo.com PEOPLE'S PARK BOOK! In Progress! We are compiling a photo collection of The Park over the years and we are looking for submissions of photos, art, poems, quotes, very short essays and any interesting expressions of People's Park. High resolution photos and questions can be sent to terricompost@yahoo.com.

Park Events Sunday April 27 39th Anniversary Noon-6pm Saturday May 3 Hip Hop in the Park Sunday May 11 Love Your Mother Garden Day & Edible and Medicinal Weeds Tour Sunday May 18 Chess Tournament 1pm-4pm by People's Park Staff Sunday May 25 Really Really Free Market 11am-3pm & Garden Day Sunday June 1 Heirloom Bean Garden Planting 1pm-4pm & Seed Saving Basics Workshop Saturday June 7 World Music Fest 40th Anniversary the planning commences The tremendous, celebrated, wonderful, fourtieth anniversary of the People's Park is approaching! Already, dreams are being dreamed, plans are being made. Share your dreams, and keep your ears open! To participate in planning, please send your contact information and interests to peoplesparkanniversary@gmail.com.

relatively recent

At the recent Fashion Box Benefit Concert and Fashion Show

all were regaled by the wonderful Mannequin (from Cambria), the Village Yiddiots (klezmer), and I Yearn for Maiden (Iron). Thanks!

Also thanks to the folks who installed an attractive new freebox, fireproof, an elegant, simple, welded steel box -- and those who instantly filled it with useful clothes. No thanks to the university, who ripped it out of the ground sometime early the following Wenesday morning.

see some pictures from the 36th Anniversary Fair.

A brief summary of the SLAPP suit.
How the University is using the legal system to actively oppose public participation.