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Berkeley,
California (Friday, August 17, 2007) - The
100-year anniversary of San Pablo Park will be celebrated in fine
style with two new public art projects and more than a million
dollars in improvements to the park and the Frances Albrier Center.
A stunning new historic plaque, celebrating the
life of noted African American activist Frances Albrier, and a mural celebrating
the multicultural
children of the San Pablo Park community, will be unveiled at the
Centennial Festival on Saturday, August 25 at 11 a.m.
The
Centennial Festival is being hosted by the San Pablo Neighborhood
Council and will include live theater and music (The Pete Escovedo
Latin Jazz Band and others), a farmers' market, a petting zoo,
contests, crafts, kids' activities, a school supply giveaway and
more. The Festival starts at 11:00 a.m. and will keep going all day
till 6:00 p.m.
The Mural and the
Plaque: Art in the Park
“Honoring
Frances Albrier” is a historic plaque that celebrates Albrier’s
contributions to the City of Berkeley, the region and the state. The
four-foot by five-foot interpretive plaque combines historical
photographs, quotes from Albrier’s oral history and text to
communicate the power of her work as a leader in political and civic
rights campaigns from the 1930s-1970s. Although Albrier was active
in state and national political issues, she was deeply rooted in
South Berkeley.
“Albrier
lived just a few blocks from San Pablo Park,” said resident Donna
Graves, “so it is fitting that she be recognized at our community
center. Her story of life-long passionate activism is worth
remembering and teaching our children.”
Donna
Graves, a local historian and cultural planner, researched and
designed the plaque. She and her family live in the neighborhood and are active park
participants. This public art project also included a well-attended
memory-gathering event at the site and an educational program at
Berkeley's Longfellow School.
She will also be giving a free slideshow and talk about life of
Albrier and of the neighborhood.
“Unique
and Everyday Kids,” a mural by nationally known artist Isis Rodriguez, was painted
with help from the community children.
“The
kids wanted the mural to reflect how they can use park activities to
integrate their culture with other cultures,” she said.
“That’s how we came up with the idea of sports bringing kids
together. The kids have been terrific in helping me paint the mural.
It’s like a big coloring book for them.”
The
historic plaque will be placed at the entrance to the community
center building and the mural is in the inside, open courtyard.
Park
Improvements
As
perhaps the most heavily utilized parks in the city for youth sports
and activities, San Pablo Park and the Frances Albrier Center
were in need of renovation. More than $330,000 has been put into the
the
Frances Albrier Community Center renovation, including reconstructing the game room, replacing the roof,
painting the entire building, and making the bathrooms handicapped
accessible.
In
addition, more than $888,000 in improvements were made to the park
itself,
including paving the pathways and redesigning the courtyard,
resurfacing the tennis and basketball court (in progress),
renovating the backstop on Field #1 (in progress) and the infield on
Field #2.
The two art projects are part of the City of Berkeley
1.5% for art program of the Civic Arts Commission. For further
information contact: Mary Ann Merker, Civic Arts Coordinator at
(510) 981-7533. To
volunteer at the festival or more information, call
(510) 204-0681.
For information about City of Berkeley
parks, call 981-6700.
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