Highlights from walkers’ discussion: These are older Fresno homes (maybe 1960s) that have been remodeled and customized to add unique architecture, paint, porches, and yards. Many homes had renovated yards to remove lawns and replace with drought tolerant/zero-scape landscaping, front yard seating, very peaceful with few dogs barking, mature trees with canopy over the streets, curving streets in the Tenaya park neighborhood was a nice contrast to Fresno’s usual grid, pleasant surprise of Tenaya neighborhood park. Major renovations of the historic Craycroft House at Palm near Sierra. Kratt Elementary school gated and locked with portable classrooms and gated sports fields. Beautiful Temple Beth Israel. Busy and fast traffic on Palm and Sierra.
Walkers encountered a man getting roofing equipment off his truck with his ladder leaning against a house, and he commented that he had never seen so many walkers. Walkers chatted with a gentleman raking leaving who said he was doing yard work at his daughter’s house. He lives just a few blocks away, and told how he had planted sago palms in his front yard, and they were stolen.
Sights: many solar panels, parked and covered RVs and boats, cats, yellow Ginkgo, many American flags, roses, orange trees and olive trees in front yards. Zero-scape front yards, beware of dog signs, squirrels running, beautiful fall colors, Temple Beth Israel, just a few children playing outside, Kratt Elementary school, large trunks and thick limbs, tree swings in front yards, decorated/unique mail boxes, unique front yards, ‘no peddlers’ sign, wooden bridge in front yard, lots of front yard seating (chairs and benches) including a full patio set with umbrella, walkers with dogs on leashes, small dogs barking from inside front windows, cyclists, security cameras, some security doors, tall hedges instead of fencing, old style Fresno Bee box next to mail boxes, Fresno Bee still wrapped and on driveways, well-kept sidewalks. Yard maintenance crews with truck and trailer. At Craycroft home, the back fence had been cut to allow a person to enter the abandoned property. Unusual sight of the Havana stock race car.
What walkers didn’t see: no abandoned grocery carts, no loose dogs, no abandoned or boarded up houses (except Craycraft house being renovated). Only 1 front yard fence, no front yard dogs. No distraught/homeless people, but did see signs of personal belongings behind abandoned Craycroft house.
Sounds: a few big dogs barking from back fences, meowing cat following walkers, birds, traffic, lawn mowers and blowers/edgers, feet crunching leaves, loud security light/bug zapper, country music loud from car window.Smells: fire burning, roses, citrus/oranges, Lantana, cigarettes on woman who passed by.
Feelings: Walkers enjoyed these mature Fresno neighborhoods tucked away between busy streets. Felt peaceful and comfortable walking through these well-kept neighborhood streets. Many were manicured and most were well-maintained and interesting with mature trees and landscaping. Some had over-grown yards. Large trees and shrubs invite birds and squirrels. Nice to greet a few people out sweeping or loading their cars.
