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The Westbrae Neighborhood Commons includes a cluster of adjacent commons projects -- the Peralta, Northside, and Karl Linn Community Gardens, the Ohlone Greenway Natural and Cultural History Exhibit, and the Berkeley EcoHouse -- and the Schoolhouse Creek Common, about a mile away. These unique community spaces feature artwork and eco-friendly technologies amidst lush vegetable gardens and native California vegetation. A network of beautiful and comfortable spaces invites visitors to enjoy nature and each other’s company.
The projects began with the construction of a hand-crafted commons in the Karl Linn Community Garden in 1993, after the city-owned community garden was dedicated in Karl's name, on the occasion of his 70th birthday to honor his lifelong commitment to community and peace.
In 1996 planning began for two community gardens with commons on vacant land across the street -- the Peralta Community Art Garden and the Northside Community Garden.
Three years later the idea of creating the Ohlone Greenway Natural and Cultural History Exhibit along an adjacent pedestrian and bicycle path captured the imaginations of a devoted team of artists and volunteer professionals.
The California Habitat Indigenous Activists (CHIA) formed when gardeners began cultivating native plants and saving seeds which they planted along the Ohlone Greenway with the goal of restoring the coastal prairie habitat.
When the small house adjacent to the Karl Linn Garden went up for sale, a campaign began to purchase it and convert it into Berkeley EcoHouse, a demonstration site for eco-friendly technologies.
Schoolhouse Creek Common, about a mile away, grew out of community efforts to transform a neglected asphalt playground into a safe and welcoming gathering place.
To support these model projects, join and/or contribute to Friends of Westbrae Commons.
We are developing a wiki page for each project so that project coordinators and participants can share images and information and announce meetings, public events, and visiting hours: Westbrae Commons Projects Wiki
We are also inaugurating a Building Commons Discussion Forum to share resources and discoveries about these and other projects. Please join in.
If you have any questions or concerns, please email Diana Young, admin@karllinn.org.
