Community on the Hillside A slice of life in the unincorporated community of Kensington By Matt Larson Resting against the hillsides of the Tilden Nature Area in West Contra Costa County you’ll find the unincorporated community of Kensington, CA. It’s not legally a city, and even calling a town is still a bit too official, so the 5,000+ residents simply refer to it as: Kensington. Known for having a network of hidden paths, you can easily explore on foot via one of Kensington’s 10 public pathways that crisscross the winding street system up and down the hillsides. With very close proximity to the Tilden Nature Area and Wildcat Canyon Regional Park, Kensington is a bit of a hiker’s paradise. Local kids are introduced to hiking early on here, as many of them walk the hiking trails just to start their day at Kensington Hilltop Elementary School. “They’re walking through Tilden Park to get to elementary school in the morning,” says Lisa Caronna, President of the Kensington Improvement Club. “You’re on a trail and there’s all these kids and their families, and strollers, and dogs…it feels like you live out in the country, but you’re right here!” With easy access to Berkeley, El Cerrito and even San Francisco, it’s amazing that Kensington has been able to maintain that close knit sense of community that you often just can’t find in larger cities. “It’s very easy to get to know your neighbors,” said Caronna. “Our police force is made up of 9 officers and a chief—so we know who they are, too! You see people you know all the time.” Of course, Caronna adds, you don’t have to be part of the community to live in Kensington. Many residents just enjoy the quiet vibe amidst the bustling Bay Area. But with so much going on, you’d be hard-pressed to not find something you’d want to get involved with. From open-air movie nights at Kensington Park to the Hilltop School Carnival to the Kensington Community Council Fall Parade & Picnic—the community is strong in Kensington. There’s also an annual historic tour of the works of Bernard Maybeck, a famous architect and former resident who developed a subdivision in Kensington.
Contra Costa Marketplace - Feb 2017
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