Reflection, Walk #41, Yr 2, from Clovis West High School on September 17, 2016, 8 a.m: Six mindfulness walkers strolled through north Fresno neighborhoods, along Shepherd Ave., and into Woodward Park. Walkers began at Clovis West high school that has an EECU bank right on the campus. While Clovis West is 49 years old it looks new and is clean and well-manicured. The tennis courts were busy early this Saturday morning.
Walkers noted how many people were out exercising, recreating, walking, running, biking, dog walking. Both schools, Clovis West and Fort Washington Elementary were open and accessible, and busy with sports, music practice, and kids playing on playgrounds. Walkers noted the different feeling of these open schools compared to the many Fresno Unified schools that are gated, locked, and empty on Saturday mornings.
Sights: many dogs as pets being walked on leashes, smooth sidewalks, houses displaying American flags, manicured yards, gardeners with trucks and trailers, yard sale, many cats, a realtor with an open house, Woodward park very busy with 1/2 marathon, professional cyclists, recumbent bikes, Keith Tice Park well maintained and open, individual customized mailboxes at houses vs. mail box stations found in other neighborhoods, ranch style and two-story big houses, mature trees with shade, some solar, drought tolerant landscaping.
Walkers talked about how the Clovis/Fresno trail goes under Shepherd Ave. Walkers remembered a few years ago when 8 year old Donovan Maldonado was struck by a car and killed. Walkers were glad that the underpass increases the safety of pedestrians and cyclists. Walkers discussed how many other areas of Fresno have dangerous crossings that have not been adequately resolved.
Walkers described the well-landscaped sidewalks and medians. Along busy Shepherd, walkers walked in the shape of well-watered and densely landscaped area that helps muffle the traffic sounds and pollution from the neighborhoods on the north side of Shepherd.
Walkers discussed what they did not see: no alleys, no visible trash, no abandoned shopping carts or boarded up houses/buildings. Walkers saw only one man carrying his bedding and belongings walking through Woodward park. In other neighborhoods, walkers see numerous people in distress and living out in the open.
Sounds: marching band practice, soccer cheers, air horn at soccer game, cow bells at marathon water stop, Canadian geese, birds, tennis players, quiet in neighborhood then noisy traffic, music playing at the garage sale. People were friendly and talked with us walkers.
Smells: Pine, dampness, cut grass, no food smells on this walk.
Walkers met a number of people on this walk. One senior gentleman walking his dog stopped walkers and talked with us for a few minutes on the street corner. Walkers saw and then met two marathon runners who were talking in a driveway and were very friendly to tell walkers about their running adventures. Walkers met a man spending his Saturday morning fixing up the batting cage at Keith Tice Park. He said other members of his group would be showing up soon.
These are our brothers and sisters in Fresno. All of our lives and futures are tied together.
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