{"id":430527,"date":"2026-08-12T07:12:25","date_gmt":"2026-08-12T07:12:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/430527\/"},"modified":"2026-08-12T07:12:25","modified_gmt":"2026-08-12T07:12:25","slug":"weigh-in-on-3-public-art-proposals-for-new-southwest-berkeley-park","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/430527\/","title":{"rendered":"Weigh in on 3 public art proposals for new Southwest Berkeley park"},"content":{"rendered":"

The city is asking residents to help choose from among three sculpture proposals \u2014 one in wood, one in a leaf-like steel, and one in concrete \u2014 for the new Southwest Berkeley<\/a> being built between Ward and Blake streets<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n

You can fill out a survey about the proposals until Aug. 24.<\/a><\/p>\n

Each proposal includes a pair of sculptures, to be placed at either end of the four-block park and would double as dwelling space for both native and migratory birds as well as \u201cnon-stinging insects.\u201d The cost of the sculptures is not to exceed $150,000, which comes from Berkeley\u2019s Percent for Art Program<\/a>, the city says. That includes the artist\u2019s design fee, environmental research, engineering, fabrication, transportation, and installation.<\/p>\n

Residents are being asked to rate the proposed artworks on their capacity to provide shelter and nesting for birds and pollinators, lend habitat awareness and create \u201cbold\u201d and \u201cvisually striking landmarks.\u201d Residents\u2019 feedback will guide the selection process but won\u2019t be the final deciding factor, said Carianna Arredondo, secretary for the city\u2019s Civic Arts Commission.<\/p>\n

The public feedback will be assessed by a group comprising city commissioners, architects, environmentalists and community members, which chose the three proposals from a pool of 72 art submissions. The commission will make its final pick and propose it to the Civic Arts Commission, which will select the final artwork.<\/p>\n

Berkeley aims to unveil the installed artwork during the Berkeley Bird Festival in fall 2027, around when the new park is expected to open.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Weigh in on the proposals<\/a><\/p>\n

Rising on a long-neglected and overgrown portion of the former Santa Fe railroad right-of-way, the $9 million park will consist of community gardens, a playground and a dog park. The first phase includes digging up and removing contaminants like arsenic from the soil before construction begins in late fall.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Take a look at the three proposed sculpture pairs:<\/p>\n

Artist: Adrien Segal<\/p>\n

\"\"Credit: City of Berkeley<\/p>\n

Murmur Nest is a pair of wood sculptures with multiple nestings and perches inspired by the \u201cmotion of flight of birds and insects.\u201d Read more<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Artists: Jennifer Parker and Anja Ulfeldt<\/p>\n

\"\"Credit: City of Berkeley<\/p>\n

Inspired by the Santa Fe railroad and the work of renowned architect Julia Morgan, the Berkeley Watershed sculptures create habitat totems for birds and insects. Read more<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Artists: Ts\u0113m\u0101 and Jonathan Igharas<\/p>\n

\"\"Credit: City of Berkeley<\/p>\n

The stems connecting the leaf-like steel of Kindred Oak are made from reclaimed train tracks, reminding residents Southwest Berkeley was an oak forest before the railroad came through. Read more<\/a>.<\/p>\n

We know that most readers don’t get to the end of the article. But you did! To support our in-depth, rock-solid reporting, please consider making a donation to our nonprofit newsroom today. We rely on our readers \u2014 particularly the ones who read the whole story!<\/p>\n

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