| John Hinkel Park | |||||||
| Type: | City park | ||||||
| Location: | 41 Somerset Place, Berkeley, California, U.S. | ||||||
| Operator: | City of Berkeley | ||||||
| Embedded: |
| ||||||
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.
In 1919, Ada and John Hinkel donated 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. The amphitheater was built in 1934 and designed by Vernon Dean and funded by the Civil Works Administration. 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. The park was renovated in 2022.