Kensington Paths Summer Scavenger Hunt

In conjunction with the KCC Summer Camp program we are launching a fun, Kensington Paths Scavenger Hunt. KCC is offering prizes to the first 10 people who turn in the correct answers by August 1st to kccrec@yahoo.com.  

The Pathkeepers want to recognize hunt participants and will publish the names of all who send the correct answers. We also will schedule a special Zoom tour in August that focuses on the scavenger hunt and features interviews with participants who join the call.

The following questions can be answered by walking the Kensington paths and carefully seeking out the answers. You should wear a mask or cloth facing covering while using the paths. Please respect social distancing guidelines and be considerate of others using the paths.  

Find a map of the paths on our website - kensingtonpathkeepers.org/maps - or get a printed version in our pamphlet at Raxakoul Coffee & Cheese or the Kensington Farmers' Market. Note that the two paths in red on the map are closed. It is not safe to use them, and they are not part of the scavenger hunt. The Westminster and Marchant paths are unpaved and steep, and you don’t need to go on either to answer these questions. There are 7 total paths you should visit.

1. How many steps on all the Kensington Paths?
2. Which path has the most total steps? Which path has the fewest?
3. Which paths have round utility holes about 2-feet in diameter (not including Westminster and Marchant paths)?
4. Which path has two lanes (and is therefore well suited for social distancing)?
5. Which path has the most wooden railroad ties?
6. Which paths have railings? Which do not?
7. On which path or paths can you see the Golden Gate Bridge?
8. There’s a large metal gate on the Beloit steps. Find it and tell us which animal figures you see on it. How many people are on it?
9. There’s a green sign on one of the paths. What does it ask path users to do?
10. Which path has a sign with the path name on it (not a number)?
 
Please send your answers to kccrec@yahoo.com.  Good luck, everyone!
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-Rodney and the Kensington Pathkeepers

Calling All Path Walkers

From the Kensington Outlook February 2019 issue (page 5)

By Lisa Caronna and Mark Altenberg

Did you or anyone you know use Kensington paths before 1972? If so, we need to hear from you! A core group of residents recently started the group Kensington Pathkeepers, whose mission is to secure the Kensington paths as public access walkways for future generations.

In order to do that, we need a record of historical path use prior to 1972. We want to hear about your use of the paths and the use by your friends, neighbors, and relatives. When you write your stories, please be specific and name the path, the connecting streets, and the year(s) you used them. It would be helpful if you could also include a way to contact you.

There are eleven pathways in Kensington; see the map. Most of the paths are open to public access, although a few are completely unimproved and two have been closed off over the years by adjacent home- owners (portions of paths #7 and #10). The Kensington paths were offered to Contra Costa County when Kensington was first developed in the early 1900s, but the county never accepted the offer. Despite that, if the paths were used by the public before 1972, they would have been accepted as a result “by public use” without any need for formal acceptance. Establishing historical public use is an important first step providing clarity toward the goal of public agency ownership.

Establishing public pathway ownership has been attempted numerous times over the past hundred years with excellent information developed most recently by a subcommittee of the KPPCSD in 2011 and action taken by the KPPCSD board in January 2012. (See kensingtonpaths.org/about). The advantages of public ownership are many (including access to grant funding), and the lack of clear ownership threatens our safety and the paths’ continued existence. Our initial goal is to resolve this long overdue ownership problem. Kensington Pathkeepers is committed to working with KPPCSD, KFPD, the county, and the adjacent landowners so our paths exist for future generations.

Paths play a critical role in our community and are a true asset to be cherished. Besides offering dramatic views of the bay, they are crucial for our safety—the paths offer possibly the most direct evacuation route during a disaster, especially when roads are blocked by traffic or downed trees. They also encourage walking and physical exercise and build community through personal interaction between neighbors.

If you would like to participate, please email mark@altenberg.com and check out the website at www.kensingtonpaths.org. You can also send in your stories either by email or physical mail to Mark Altenberg, 245 Yale St., Kensington 94708. Or call 510-301- 5000, and we will come and interview you for these critical historical path archives.

Candidates Forum for KPPCSD and KFPD - November 6, 2018 Election

On September 29, 2018, the KIC (Kensington Improvement Club) held it's annual Town Hall meeting followed by a Candidates Forum for both the KPPCSD (Kensington Police Protection and Community Services District) as well as the KFPD (Kensington Fire Protection District). The Candidates Forum is co-sponsored by both the KIC and the KPOA (Kensington Property Owner’s Association). Following is the recording of both Candidates Forums.