John Hinkel Park is an urban park located in the North Berkeley neighborhood of Berkeley, California, U.S.. It has been listed by the city as a Berkeley Landmark since April 2, 2001,[1] and it contains a historical plaque since 2003.[2]
| John Hinkel Park | |||||||||||
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| Type | City park | ||||||||||
| Location | 41 Somerset Place, Berkeley, California, U.S. | ||||||||||
| Coordinates | 37°53′43″N 122°16′24″W / 37.895278°N 122.273333°W | ||||||||||
| Area | 4.9 acres (2.0 ha) | ||||||||||
| Operated by | City of Berkeley | ||||||||||
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History
editIn 1919, Ada and John Hinkel donated 7 acres (2.8 ha) of hillside land to the city of Berkeley, in dedication to the Boy Scouts of America's work during World War I.[2] John Gregg, a local professor in landscaping, had helped with the design of the park before it was donated to the city.[2] The amphitheater was built in 1934 and designed by Vernon Dean and funded by the Civil Works Administration.[2] The amphitheater was used in the 1940s for community gatherings, music, and dance productions. It was also the performance space for the Berkeley Shakespeare Festival from 1971 until 1991.[3] The park also contains picnic tables and a playground.[4]
It once contained a redwood clubhouse (1918–2015), which was burned down in a fire.[4] The park was renovated in 2022.[4]
See also
editReferences
edit
- ^ Cerny, Susan (February 16, 2002). "John Hinkel Park". Berkeley Landmarks. Berkeley Architectural Heritage Association (BAHA). Retrieved 2023-12-30.
- ^ a b c d "John Hinkel Park". Berkeley Historical Plaque Project. 2003. Retrieved 2023-12-30.
- ^ Moss, Whitney (2023-11-24). "Secret Spots: John Hinkel Park in North Berkeley". 510 Families. Retrieved 2023-12-30.
- ^ a b c Kwok, Iris (2022-07-18). "Revamped amphitheater, new picnic area open at John Hinkel Park". Berkeleyside. Retrieved 2023-12-30.