BY DANIEL MCGLYNN //
In Canyon Trail Park there is a boulder inscribed with petroglyphs – mortars, cupules, and fertility symbols. The site is also home to a grassroots conservation project that aims to protect native plants as well as preserve the rock.
To learn more about the efforts of the Canyon Trail Volunteers watch the slideshow below.
December 10th, 2008 at 5:55 pm
Daniel ! The Indian features on the rock are said to be several thousands of years old not several hundred as mentioned in the article, as old as the shell mounds of Richmond. The great age makes them one of the oldest indian artifacts
in he Bay Area and very rare. I don’t know if this can be corrected? Jim Mckissock
December 10th, 2008 at 9:18 pm
Jim-
Thanks for the clarification. By using the word site, I meant it in reference to both the rock and the native plant communities.
For anyone interested in more information about the local watershed and natural history check out this link Wildcat Creek Watershed Landscape History from the San Francisco Estuary Institute.
DM
December 10th, 2008 at 10:06 pm
I have lived in the area for 48 years, before a park was prepared. My sons used to play in that area and climb on the rock, before it was unearthed from the weeds. El Cerrito got some funds and made a park with 2 pathways, that caused our homes to slide! Jim has been working to put in all natives, after the junk that the city put up for children to use. He has worked with no recognition from the city. Finally a rock organization heard about the site and gave us some funds and put in some watering device. He is so tireless and has a few steady volunteers. The city gave a lot of money to the people who “did” the Baxter Creek mess. They kept asking for Jim’s advice on plants and things. He gave the information to them, which they didn’t take. He had done some work there, and they destroyed it. Then they hired a landscape something or other and paid him a lot of money. It is really a shame that these people, who had meetings and were being paid a lot of money, didn’t know what they were doing.
Thanks for listening.
Zelda
January 4th, 2009 at 4:31 pm
Zelda, Jim and all…
I understand what Zelda is saying having lived in El Cerrito since the age of five. Too many times our city’s “improvements” are at the expense of our wonderful natural resources.
Its my personal theory (never proven) that most of our city planners, building inspectors and other civil servants “live elsewhere.” They haven’t got a clue about the richness of our city or the creeks, trees, flowers, rock formations, or wildlife which once flourished here. Instead, they develop plans to spend money putting up banners along San Pablo Avenue, encouraging “big box” stores, and “beautifying” our parks. All this (IMHO) to feather their resumes for “better” jobs with larger city governments elsewhere.
Thank you, Jim…thank you Zelda…and thank you to all of you who spend the time to be the true stewards of our remaining resources. We *do* appreciate your efforts!