A debate over whether UC Berkeley should sponsor an open competition to choose a new design for the historic site erupted after People’s Park Community Advisory Board member and architect Sam Davis suggested holding a competition last week.
While some board members agreed that a competition would enhance plans to redevelop the park, others said the move was premature and called for more community involvement instead.
The competition would be based on the People’s Park Assessment and Planning Study that was prepared by San Francisco-based consultants MKThink over a nine-month period.
At an earlier meeting in November, park users and stakeholders had emphasized the need for open green space and had criticized plans in the consultant’s study that involved permanent structures.
Almost everyone involved stressed the importance of fighting crime and homelessness in the park and keeping the spirit of social service alive.
