Berkeley officials are asking residents to help decide how to tackle billions of dollars in aging infrastructure needs, from parks and pools to fire stations and sidewalks.
City officials said they will host four community meetings over the next month to gather feedback on a proposed list of infrastructure projects. The projects aim to repair and modernize public facilities across the city, many of which are more than 75 years old.
Berkeley maintains more than 54 parks, 95 buildings and more than 300 miles of sidewalks, along with community centers, camps and pools. City officials have estimated between $1.65 billion and $2 billion in needed repairs and upgrades, with no identified funding to cover the costs.
Since not all projects can move forward at once, Berkeley officials say residents will help set priorities.
At each meeting, they will present an overview of the city’s infrastructure needs and the types of projects under consideration. Attendees will then break into small groups to ask questions, discuss the proposals and share which projects they believe are most urgent.
Types of projects being considered
The proposed projects include upgrades or replacements to community centers and pools; new or expanded open space and park improvements; waterfront projects to address sea-level rise and protect public access; replacement or upgrades of fire stations and training facilities; expansion and modernization of emergency dispatch facilities; modernization of city offices and public buildings; and citywide sidewalk repair and accessibility improvements.
Examples under consideration include replacing the Frances Albrier Community Center in San Pablo Park with a modern, seismically safe facility; replacing King Pool and its locker room with a larger 25-meter pool; creating new or expanded open space along the Adeline Corridor; replacing Fire Stations 4 and 6; expanding and modernizing the 911 dispatch center; repairing sidewalks and improving ADA accessibility citywide; and seismic upgrades to the Maudelle Shirek and Veterans Memorial buildings.
City staff said projects were reviewed based on community use, safety, fairness across districts, long-term value, readiness and the ability to secure grants or other funding.
The meetings are scheduled as follows:
- West Berkeley (Districts 1 and 2): Thursday, Feb. 26, 7 to 8:30 p.m., James Kenney Community Center, 1720 Eighth St.
- South Berkeley (Districts 3 and 8): Tuesday, March 3, 7 to 8:30 p.m., Willard Clubhouse, 2720 Hillegass Ave.
- Central Berkeley and Southside (Districts 4 and 7): Thursday, March 12, 7 to 8:30 p.m., Willard Clubhouse, 2720 Hillegass Ave.
- Northwest Berkeley (Districts 5 and 6):, Wednesday, March 18, 7 to 8:30 p.m., Live Oak Community Center, 1301 Shattuck Ave.
Residents who cannot attend in person can email the city to review the full project list and submit written comments.
Final funding decisions would be made by the City Council at a later date, according to Berkeley officials.