UC Berkeley Press Release

San Francisco firm will guide People's Park community planning process

By Irene Hegarty | 26 January 2007

BERKELEY – The University of California, Berkeley, has selected the San Francisco firm MKThink to guide a community planning process for People's Park that will look at the uses and programs that the community and campus would like to enjoy at the park and recommend landscape or facilities improvements to the university.

"We are looking forward to working with the MKThink team," said Emily Marthinsen, assistant vice chancellor for planning for UC Berkeley. "It bases its work on an understanding of the impact of the built environment on the human condition. It is a people-focused approach that is well-suited for this site."

MKThink will work with Marta Fry Landscape Associates. The planning process should kick off in March and be completed by fall 2007.

The project team was selected from 10 firms that submitted proposals to the university in response to a request for qualifications. A committee comprised of UC staff, a city of Berkeley representative, and members of the park's community advisory board interviewed finalists and made the selection.

"MKThink is delighted to be chosen for this important assignment," said Mark Miller, project principal for the firm. "People's Park's dynamic history, broad constituents and neighboring community form a valuable foundation for an exciting future. We want to build upon this foundation and create opportunities for an engaging, safe and respectful park for many years to come."

People's Park is a 2.8-acre site owned by the University of California and operated by the UC Berkeley campus as a recreational resource. The park, located in the south campus Telegraph Avenue area, has had a long history of political controversy since its beginning in 1969. Currently, the site is used for basketball, community gardening, concerts and special events.

The park's Community Advisory Board hopes to involve a wide range of community members in the planning process, including neighbors; local businesses and non-profit organizations; UC Berkeley students, faculty and staff; community gardeners and other park users.