Friends of the Fountain and Walk

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Friends of the Fountain and Walk

Friends of the Fountain and Walk is a non-profit group of volunteers who reconstructed the fountain beginning in the early 1990's.

Friends of the Fountain and Walk began in the early 1990s as a non-profit organization, for the purpose of reconstructing the historic Beaux Arts Fountain at the center of The Circle in Berkeley, California. At the time, the restoration was one of the largest grassroots community efforts in Berkeley’s history. Today, the organization maintains and preserves the Fountain and Walk for the enjoyment

of all Berkeley residents and visitors. Friends of the Fountain and Walk is led by a diverse Board of seven directors, each of whom lives in the neighborhood surrounding the Fountain. The Board meets quarterly to review the organization’s finances, capital projects and strategy. Activities of the Friends of the Fountain and Walk organization include:

· Weekly maintenance of the fountain operating system
· Monthly maintenance of The Circle grounds and landscape
· Fundraising for major repair projects and on-going maintenance
· Coordination and cooperation with City of Berkeley
· Community outreach and education

The special joint working relationship between Friends of the Fountain and Walk and the City of Berkeley has become a model for other non-profit organizations in the area.

08/23/2026

For Its 30th Birthday, Some Fixes for the Fountain

Friends and neighbors: In a few weeks, the Fountain at The Circle will mark the 30th anniversary of its dedication on Sept. 15, 1996. A celebration that day shut down The Circle and thousands turned out to join in the festivities. The day capped a years-long effort by neighbors to replicate the fountain that had stood in the center of The Circle for nearly five decades between 1911 and 1957, before a runaway truck hurtling down Marin Avenue crashed into it and destroyed it....

Friends and neighbors: In a few weeks, the Fountain at The Circle will mark the 30th anniversary of its dedication on Sept. 15, 1996. A celebration that day shut down The Circle and thousands turne…

07/13/2026

New Fountain Documentary Debuts July 18

Friends and neighbors: We are pleased and excited to announce that our history presentation at the main branch of the Berkeley Public Library this coming Saturday will feature the first public showing of a brand new documentary film. The film, simply titled "The Fountain at The Circle," presents the history of the two fountains that have flowed at the intersection of Marin and Arlington avenues: one erected in 1911 and destroyed in a crash in 1957, and today's fountain, installed through the efforts of a group of neighbors and now celebrating the 30th anniversary of its dedication in 1996....

Friends and neighbors: We are pleased and excited to announce that our history presentation at the main branch of the Berkeley Public Library this coming Saturday will feature the first public show…

07/07/2026

Library Exhibit Is Up — Through August 1!

Friends and neighbors: FOFW's new exhibit chronicling the history of both the long-lost original Fountain at The Circle and the current fountain, entering its 30th year of existence, is now installed in the stairway and lobby of the original main branch of the Berkeley Public Library on Kittredge Street. The display first covers the events that led to the construction and eventual demise of the original fountain and nearby walkway, which were formally dedicated in 1911, but deteriorated over the years until a terrible crash destroyed the fountain in 1957. ...

Friends and neighbors: FOFW’s new exhibit chronicling the history of both the long-lost original Fountain at The Circle and the current fountain, entering its 30th year of existence, is now i…

07/03/2026

A Holiday Weekend Off for the Fountain

Friends and neighbors: The Fountain at The Circle is taking the holiday weekend off, and will be off until at least Monday so that it can be cleaned and refilled. The hardworking fountain has rarely taken time off during the 3o years it has been flowing in the heart of Northbrae. So we hope fountain fans will allow it this long weekend to dry out and start fresh....

Friends and neighbors: The Fountain at The Circle is taking the holiday weekend off, and will be off until at least Monday so that it can be cleaned and refilled. The hardworking fountain has rarel…

06/16/2026

Exhibit, Talk to Mark Reborn Fountain and Walk’s 30th Anniversary

Friends and neighbors: This year marks the 30th anniversary of the installation of Berkeley’s "new" Fountain at The Circle and the restoration of Fountain Walk in Northbrae. To celebrate this milestone, the main branch of the Berkeley Public Library will host a monthlong exhibit and a public lecture on the history of these beloved city landmarks, presented by Friends of the Fountain and Walk....

Friends and neighbors: This year marks the 30th anniversary of the installation of Berkeley’s “new” Fountain at The Circle and the restoration of Fountain Walk in Northbrae. To celebrat…

01/07/2026

Tripping the Lights (Not) Fantastic

Friends and neighbors: Just a note to explain why the holiday lights around the perimeter of the island of the Fountain at The Circle have been dark these past few weeks. The heavy rains and wind have played havoc with the garlands that contain the lights, causing the electricity to short out much of the time. We've tried to make repairs between storms, but have not been able to fix the problem completely....

Friends and neighbors: Just a note to explain why the holiday lights around the perimeter of the island of the Fountain at The Circle have been dark these past few weeks. The heavy rains and wind h…

12/06/2025

A Wish for the Holidays

Friends and neighbors: Time for a math pop quiz. This equation, we hope, is one that everyone will memorize and keep in mind: 2 + 2 = -5,000 That may seem like a crazy formula, but that is the unfortunate arithmetic that applies any time the Fountain at The Circle is vandalized by the seemingly “harmless” prank of soaping the water, as happened this weekend....

Friends and neighbors: Time for a math pop quiz. This equation, we hope, is one that everyone will memorize and keep in mind: 2 + 2 = -5,000 That may seem like a crazy formula, but that is the unfo…

Address

P. O. Box 7343
Berkeley, CA
94707

Telephone

+15109829738

Website

http://www.BerkeleyFountain.org/

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