Subject: Monetizing History
Date: 02/17/2024
From: The History Desk

Our fair Kensington has a wealth of historical connections to Spanish culture despite the English name. Es verdad… mi amigo!

History tells us in 1772 the Fages/Crespi expedition traveled up from Monterey looking for a shorter route across the San Francisco Bay to support the mission in San Francisco. Their route took them up the East side of the SF Bay. One of their camp sites was on the bank of a creek near the base of a small hill. They named the creek Cerrito Creek, the hill was named the Little Hill of St. Anthony, (now known as the Albany Hill).

The Kensington PathKeepers group is interested in the public footpaths throughout our hillside community. The group has been active in documenting, restoring and improving the paths. They have been advocates for the Kensington Police Protection & Community Services District to take over ownership and maintenance of the paths. Several problems with their plan: ownership of the paths has never been established, the KPPCSD doesn’t have the funds to take over the paths and as wonderful as the paths are, there is the issue that some can’t be used for evacuation routes in case of emergency because of ADA requirements. Ay, caramba!

So instead of burdening the KPPCSD with a fiscal responsibility the district can’t afford, perhaps the PathKeepers might explore ways to generate funds for the KPPCSD. They might want to look to the Spanish culture and the wealth of history in our area for inspiration. What if the Pathkeepers created something like a “Santiago de Compostela Lite” route tracing the path of the Spanish expedition through our Kensington for hikers?

And once the Tom Dean’s dream of a Huchiun tribal casino up on Grizzley Peak gets rolling, hikers could enjoy a recreational stop there before they enter Wildcat Canyon and the trails beyond. Since the casino will be locally owned, monies will start flowing into the KPPCSD coffers in no time. Then maybe we will be able to finance a new Kensington police building in Kensington. What a concept!

St. Anthony is the venerated Catholic patron saint of travelers, shipwrecks, lost things and a wonder-worker among his other attributes. Kensington could use some of his talents in righting our financial short falls. Can I get a via con Dios?

“Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.” (Ralph Waldo Emerson)

Satire alert; Caution, the path to save Kensington’s future could be an uphill slog.