A resolution pushing for increased student participation in determining the future of People's Park will be considered this week by the ASUC Senate.

The resolution calls for a student forum to discuss park development plans and for the ASUC to encourage the campus to appoint more students to the People's Park Community Advisory Board.

Additionally, the resolution supports social and mental health services for the homeless population that frequents the park.

Before making more specific recommendations, ASUC City Affairs Advisor Igor Tregub, who co-authored the People's Park resolution, said he is awaiting the resolution's passing and implementation in order to gain student input.

"People's Park's history is rooted in the student movement," he said.

ASUC Senator Roxanne Winston added that it is unfortunate that students are generally not invested in the fate of People's Park considering that students had fought against the campus in the 1960s to establish the park in the first place.

UC Berkeley hired the consulting firm MK Think last spring to survey community concerns and suggestions for improving the park, but the sample size of students was relatively small, she said.

Since the consulting firm worked during finals season last spring and through summer break, communication with the general student body and with student leaders such as thos in the ASUC was difficult, said Irene Hegarty, campus director of community relations.

"It wasn't an ideal time to get students involved," she said. "I would like to see students in the College of Environmental Design take a look."

An open forum for students, Berkeley residents and the homeless is a better way to measure response from a larger community that uses the park, Tregub said.

While campus and ASUC officials agree on the need for increased student participation, the campus and community have been more divided about the ways in which to develop the park.

Five members of the People's Park Community Advisory Board resigned last week after hearing the campus would not endorse an open design competition for the revitalization of the park.

But Hegarty said the campus has not yet finished consulting the community and that holding a competition would be premature because guidelines must be set for those hoping to submit park designs.

Some people have safety concerns and would like to see the character of People's Park changed, Hegarty said, while others see the park as a community landmark that should not be altered.

Tags: PEOPLE'S PARK, ASUC