Reflection from Walk #39, from Fugman Elementary in north Fresno through neighborhoods and to the Copper River Country Club.A gorgeous Saturday morning, 7 FMWalkers met at Fugman Elementary School. Walking past a few open fields graded for development, we then strolled along beautifully landscaped walkways, past gated housing developments. Smaller pockets of homes were gated but without sidewalks. Each home was beautifully manicured with water fountains, and colorful flowers. One homeowner was mowing his lawn with an electric lawnmower.After the walk, we discussed our observations. Walkers couldn’t help but compare this neighborhood to previous walks through neighborhoods in stark contrast to this one. Clean, manicured, large, green, new, quiet, uniform. These are not attributes often found in many Fresno neighborhoods.During the walks, FMWalkers take note of the sights, sounds, smells, and feelings of the neighborhoods we walk. Here’s a summary of their comments:Sights: size and exercise, leisure, walkers and runners with dogs on leashes, security systems, gates, landscaped sidewalks, water fountains, view of the bluffs, 4-car garages, golf course, golf carts, young mothers pushing strollers, perfect yards, spiral bushes, neutral paint colors, new cars, construction workers with older model cars/work trucks. Porta potty. Signs saying “guests only” or “residents only” or “members only.”What FMWalkers did not see: children playing outside (one father playing ball with his son at the end of our walk), few pools, only one children’s toy set in backyard, trash, mattresses, shopping carts, loose dogs, wrecked cars, trade vehicles, home businesses, chain linked fences, churches, graffiti. FMWalkers thought they would see more signs of children because of the elementary school.Sounds: quiet, birds, hammering, one electric lawn mower, Spanish music from workers at house under construction. No traffic noise. No sirens. No roosters. No barking dogs, even the one or two that looked at us from behind fences.Smells: fresh air, flower and shrub fragrances. No food cooking. No trash odors. No dog poop.Feelings: It feels good to see flowers and fountains and clean curbs. Wide clean sidwalks make for pleasant walking/running. The beautiful houses and landsaping are fun to see. Several of the homes seem hard to access the front doors. There are few front yard living/sitting areas, perhaps less opportunity for casual engagement. Much more engagement happening on golf course. Within a few of the gated neighborhoods, there were security doors. Dogs are family pets and not so much for security like in other neighborhoods. We saw beautiful big dogs who didn’t bark as we walked past. Walkers felt safe from harm. Walkers reported feeling sort of ‘watched,’ so they tried to blend in. Walkers on ‘adventure walks’ or showing signs that they are not “exercising” but rather observing, might stand out. We had to enter through gates or walk where we might be asked to leave because we were not guests. However, we were greeted by some we passed, and chatted with construction workers and the two nice guys who ride around in the Club Car to service the water stations and restrooms on the golf course.FMWalkers discussed their thoughts about how people feel living in these neighborhoods. Walkers reported missing lots of activity that goes on in many others neighborhoods – one walker reported that when she left her house that morning for the walk, kids were already playing in the street in her neighborhood and on their scooters. Neighbors were sitting on front porches. There may be many community feelings and relationships going on in this neighborhood that are not immediately apparent to an observer.Every walk is an opportunity to see all of Fresno, to observe, without judgement, and to seek to understand. These are our brothers and sisters in Fresno, and whether we would choose it or not, our lives and our futures are all tied up together.
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