Community

Berkeley's Civic Center Park encampment has been removed

Berkeley City Councilman Igor Tregub provided an update on the encampment in an email to constituents this week.

The current view at Civic Center Park in downtown Berkeley. Scanner Insider

In recent weeks, 16 people who had been staying in Berkeley's Civic Center Park agreed to move into housing and the tents that dotted the west side of the park have been removed, officials said.

Councilman Igor Tregub, who represents downtown Berkeley, provided an update on the encampment in an email to constituents Thursday.

Tregub credited the city's Homeless Response Team for doing the recent work and thanked community members, as well, for sharing input at a town hall meeting in late February.

Tregub said one person had left the encampment on their own while 16 others had moved into housing.

"Over the past few weeks, the Homeless Response Team has been successful in …working with them to ensure their belongings are removed too," he wrote.

The city removed the remaining tents and fenced off the area Thursday morning.

At that point, only a few people were left, staff said.

The current view at Civic Center Park in Berkeley. *Scanner Insider*

Tregub also noted that the western portion of Civic Center Park had been fenced off temporarily "to undergo needed rehabilitation."

"Once all the work is complete, which we understand will be soon, the park will reopen and once again become a centerpiece of downtown’s beautiful and vital public commons," he wrote.

Construction has also resumed in Civic Center Park, with the removal of tree roots and old utilities to allow work to proceed "for the new flagstone pavement section at the plaza."

Tregub said workers have also begun to install irrigation systems for landscaping improvements.

The Turtle Island Monument concept plans. *City of Berkeley*

According to materials from the city, the Civic Center Upper Plaza Improvements Project "will upgrade the fountain and paved area surrounding the fountain in Civic Center Park in downtown Berkeley. The project will make the area a more functional and beautiful gathering space for our community."

Phase 1 work, largely outside the fountain walls, includes flagstone paving, site accessibility, peace wall restoration, landscaping, site furnishings, utilities and related work, according to the city website.

That's slated to be done by the end of June.

The next phase is set to include artwork and decorative paving along with "seating, landscaping, fountain utilities and related work" on and inside the fountain.