Little Farm in Tilden Park to Close for Extended Period

The popular Little Farm in the Tilden Nature Area will be closed beginning next Tuesday, Oct. 15, for an extended period during a major sewer project, according to the East Bay Regional Park District.

The closure could last into February, depending on the progress of the sewer work, park officials said.

The 58-year-old Little Farm – located about a half mile from the northeast corner of Berkeley – is a small demonstration farm known for its landmark red barn and cows, pigs, goats, sheep and chickens.

The contruction project calls for several scattered sewage holding tanks in the park to be replaced by a consolidated central tank, said Dave Zuckerman, a supervising naturalist at the Tilden Nature Center.

The Tilden Nature Center (Environmental Education Center), located next to the Little Farm, will remain open on weekends only, 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m Sat. and Sun., though visitors may have to hike further to reach it since parking near the Farm and Nature Center will be closed, park officials said.

"This is one of the three original parks of the group that opened in 1936," he said. "A lot of the infrastructure is really old."

Also expected to be closed are the Indian Camp restroom, picnic areas, play parking lot, according to the park district. 

Published Oct. 9, 2013, 1:58 p.m.; updated Oct. 24, 2:50 p.m.