If you haven’t been to downtown Fresno lately, FMWalkers share their observations and photos in this post. The 4 mile walk through downtown Fresno gave FMWalkers lots to talk about – mainly their overwhelming responses indicating that downtown Fresno is a very cool place undergoing amazing transformations. Walkers had many observations, and the following are some highlights:
How can we convey that downtown Fresno is a wonderful place and people should come check it out? I’m never afraid when I’m downtown, and the more I visit, the more I love it. People need to know this!
Saw at least 18 places I wanted to get something to eat.
This walk brought back so many memories. This is where I did everything when I was growing up. These are familiar places.
Mindfulness walks are personal experiences as well as external connections, and what I focus on depends on my mood. Sometimes I’m focused on nature. Today I was focused on businesses.
I really love seeing the changes in downtown since I was last here. I can’t help but think back to how this places was 35 years ago.
I think it would be so cool to live here. I saw a woman sitting on her balcony with coffee and a laptop. It would be nice to just wake up and step out on your balcony to downtown living.
This walk was more internally fulfilling, because it was less strenuous than the walk a couple of weeks ago along the river.
Lots of birds. A squirrel chased me. Love seeing the bright yellow tree (Calaverdi?)
I liked seeing signs in Spanish, since I’m taking Spanish in school. It was fun to be able to read them and practice Spanish.
Noticed many dogs and cats on balconies and inside the windows. The residences were very clean looking.
CMAC two-story mural with birds and man reading a book. This is an impressive, remarkable mural!!
Glad to see that they are keeping the plaques of donors on the CMAC building, which use to be the Fresno Metropolitan Museum.
Walkers talked about the idea of CMAC (Community Media Access Collaborative) and other businesses like Fresno IdeaWorks, and hashtag. I think downtown Fresno is about ‘collaborating businesses.’
I never come down here unless I get a jury summons or come for Arthop. But now I see how much there is to do – I want to come back.
Loved the smell of the taco truck, Jasmine, restaurant cooking.
Saw lots of people working: guys cleaning up the parking lot at the African American Museum. Men repairing window and wall at Chinese restaurant. Tree pruning crew taking down tree in Courthouse park.
People can take back these areas by coming here.
Feel sorry for businesses trying to stay open during construction of Fulton Mall. Must be hard to keep customers with chain linked fencing.
Interesting to see the people waiting for the Tarot Card shop to open. When we talked to the lady who was waiting to go in, it sounded so normal for her to come here and have her cards read and learn about her future.
Walkers encounter ed Craig Scharton of the Fresno Downtown Partnership leading a tour of the Fulton Street revitalization efforts. FMW (Lori) invited them to visit the FMW website page to see the map of all Fresno walks and join a Saturday morning mindfulness walk any time!
And the Cultural Arts District Park is so cool. The white umbrellas light up at night. On ArtHop nights (first Thursday of every month), they have dancing and music in this park. And there’s art galleries within walking distance. One walker described coming to Arthop right after work on Thursdays, and then she and her husband go to Tokoyo Gardens for dinner.
Noticed the HUGE piñata at Arte America. Today is the piñata festival. And now Arte America will have Friday’s on the plaza with music,dancing, and entertainment all through the summer.
Walkers were glad to see where Catholic Charities is located – heard about the people killed back in April, and now we could see the memorial of candles and religious figurines.
Walkers talked about the people who look frail or distraught roaming around or tucked in on a bench. One Walker described the services in downtown Fresno for seniors, for people with disabilities, including mental health issues, and social services. For example, The Californian is a residential program for people with mental health issues. Loved seeing the people socializing outside at the tables at Silvercrest, the Salvation Army residential building for seniors. One woman smiled and greeted us with, “Have a blessed day.”
It was nice to see the young man (probably a graduate) with his family and a photographer, coming downtown for the photo shoot. Lots of cool places for photos.
See all the photos from the walk downtown Fresno:
On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1967503770203034.1073741958.1429474537339296&type=1&l=0ebe590ca7
or Google photo album: https://goo.gl/photos/ZgyF31zPA7HJdHzq7
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