Berkeley in Alameda County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)
Garden History

By Andrew Ruppenstein, May 3, 2020
1. Garden History Marker
Inscription. Garden History. . From 1902 to 1979 the Santa Fe railroad company used this land for both industrial shipping and passenger service. The railroad tracks that once passed through here were part of a nine mile strip of land that went from Richmond to Oakland. After the tracks had been uprooted in 1979 the city of Berkeley devoted this land for open space. In 1993, designs for our garden patch were developed with help from the University of California Berkeley Department of Landscape Architecture. In 1994 the garden patch was completed with aid from AmeriCorps participants, community volunteers, East Bay Conservation Corps, and University of California Berkeley students. This land is still owned by the city of Berkeley, and leased by Berkeley Youth Alternatives. . This historical marker is in Berkeley in Alameda County California
From 1902 to 1979 the Santa Fe railroad company used this land for both industrial shipping and passenger
service. The railroad tracks that once passed through here were part of a nine mile strip of land that went from
Richmond to Oakland. After the tracks had been uprooted in 1979 the city of Berkeley devoted this land for
open space. In 1993, designs for our garden patch were developed with help from the University of California
Berkeley Department of Landscape Architecture. In 1994 the garden patch was completed with aid from
AmeriCorps participants, community volunteers, East Bay Conservation Corps, and University of California
Berkeley students. This land is still owned by the city of Berkeley, and leased by Berkeley Youth Alternatives.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Parks & Recreational Areas • Railroads & Streetcars.
Location. 37° 51.907′ N, 122° 17.159′ W. Marker is in Berkeley, California, in Alameda County. Marker is on Bancroft Way west of West Street, on the left when traveling west. Touch for map. 
By Andrew Ruppenstein, May 3, 2020
2. Garden History Marker - wide view
Marker is at or near this postal address: 1308 Bancroft Way, Berkeley CA 94702, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. American Photoplayer Co. (approx. ¼ mile away); Santa Fe Railway Depot (approx. 0.3 miles away); Fox Court (approx. 0.4 miles away); Historic McGee-Spaulding District (approx. 0.4 miles away); Site of Presentation High School and Convent (approx. half a mile away); Toveri Tupa – Finnish Hall (approx. 0.6 miles away); Longfellow School (approx. 0.6 miles away); Church of the Good Shepherd (approx. 0.6 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Berkeley.
More about this marker. The marker is just within the gate, on the right, of the Bancroft Community Garden.

By Andrew Ruppenstein, May 3, 2020
3. Province of Cats
Just outside the garden gate, embedded in the sidewalk, is another plaque providing an alternative perspective on the use of the land.
Credits. This page was last revised on July 28, 2020. It was originally submitted on July 28, 2020, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Sacramento, California. This page has been viewed 38 times since then and 2 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on July 28, 2020, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Sacramento, California.