They're Here! (Almost) — Sidewalk Markers About City History, Culture

The sidewalks along San Pablo Avenue in El Cerrito will soon be talking.

City officials said they will begin Wednesday installing more than two dozen  plaques made of precast concrete, each measuring two-feet by two-feet, into the sidewalk. The markers feature images and brief descriptions of various historic and cultural topics connected to El Cerrito.

And when the 28 "historic-cultural pavers" are officially introduced at the city's "Spring Fling" celebration Saturday, there will signs next to each one with a scanable "QR code," enabling users of smart phones that read QR codes to link to an explanatory audio recording. A QR code is similar to a bar code but can contain more information.

Alternatively, anyone can download a audio recording (in MP3 format) of a paver tour ahead of time, city officials said. The recording will be availiable via the Spring Fling webpage before Saturday, they said.

Developed in collaboration with the El Cerrito Historical Society, the pavers show "images and stories ... intended to represent a broad array of El Cerrito culture and history and be of interest to residents and visitors of all ages and backgrounds," according to the city.

One marker features the Sante Fe Railway; another represents the Japanese nurseries that once flourished in the area. The Contra Costa Civic Theatre gets a marker, as do Fairmont School and "Summertime Fun in El Cerrito." The 28 plaques will be spaced out along the length of San Pablo in the city.

The first pavers will be installed between Fairmount and Central Avenues, possibly beginning around 8:30 or 9 a.m. Wednesday, said Suzanne Iarla, community outreach specialist in the city manager's office.

"The interpretive pavers are part of the El Cerrito Redevelopment Agency’s larger multi-year project to enhance San Pablo Avenue," said a city news release distributed by Iarla today, May 10. "The goal of the overall project is to identify El Cerrito as a distinct place along the Avenue, enhance the economic vitality of the area and create a better walking environment."

The pavers are part of the multi-year San Pablo Avenue Streetscape project, which includes also banners, bike racks, new medians and crosswalks, "," new landscaping, creation of Gateway Park and improved transit stops.

Celebrating all the improvements is the purpose of the Spring Fling event Saturday, which begins at 10 a.m. in front of . It will include a welcome by Mayor Ann Cheng, dedication of sidewalk stars by , refreshments, and a giveaway of 100 Clipper cards for free AC Transit bus rides on Saturday.

One element notably absent from the celebration will be designed to be placed on streetlight poles along San Pablo. The long-delayed public art project is supposed to be part of the streetscape improvement project, but the designs proposed by the artists were rejected by the city's Arts and Culture Commission last month.

The sidewalk pavers also were vetted by the commission. Below is a list of the pavers and their locations provided by the city:

1. The El Cerrito Hills (near Carlson)

2. Cerrito Creek (near Carlson)

3. The Little Hill (near Fairmount)

4. Rust (near Fairmount)

5. El Cerrito's Nightlife (near Fairmount)

6. El Cerrito's First Mayor (near Fairmount)

7. Cerrito Theater (near Central)

8. The Six Bells (near Central)

9. The "IT" Club (near Central)

10. Violet Wong's Dining Room (near Central)

11. Master Craftsmen (near Lincoln)

12. El Cerrito's Music Scene (near Eureka)

13. Farms and Dairies (near Eureka)

14. Arts and Culture in El Cerrito (near Stockton)

15. Fairmont School (near Stockton)

16. El Cerrito Public Library (near Stockton)

17. City Hall (near Manila)

18. The Industrial Core (near Madison)

19. The Holy Ghost Festa (near Madison)

20. Quarries (near Madison)

21. Streetcars in El Cerrito (near Potrero)

22. Little Italy (near Potrero)

23. Stege Sanitary (near Potrero)

24. Contra Costa Civic Theatre (near Potrero)

25. Summertime Fun in El Cerrito (near Hill)

26. The Avenue (near Cutting)

27. Japanese Nurseries (near Wall)

28. Santa Fe Railway (near Ohio)

Correction: The original version of this article incorrectly said the markers are made of metal. They're made of precast concrete. The article has been corrected.