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Aerial view
of Allan Witt
Park showing the walking loop (green) and park amenities (top is north)
Wednesday July 19, 2006 seemed like a good day for a stroll in the park.
Temperatures had exceeded 100F on Monday (the local paper claimed
108F!), but Tuesday had reached only the upper 90Fs, and the air was
cool at 6AM on Wednesday. The sun was hidden by a sky filled with gray
clouds.
The City of Fairfield Community
Services Department's week-long Walk The Parks
program had launched two days earlier at Laurel Creek Park, and was
proving to be more popular than expected. Each day a ¼ mile or
½ mile course would be marked for one-hour morning and evening
walks (6AM and again at 7PM) in one of the city's parks. Wednesday's
park du jour was Allan Witt Park.
This was an opportunity we could not miss! An event in
AWP, a chance to get some good exercise, dispel the myths of homeless,
drugs and criminals at AWP, and show people how pleasant, vital and
well-used the park really is. It was also an opportunity to prepare for
the upcoming ( August
5-6) 24-hour walk for the American
Cancer Society's annual fundraiser Relay
for Life at Solano Community College. The plan was to start with the 6AM walkers and
continue circling the 1/2 mile course all day, finishing with the
7PM-8PM Walk The Parks group, and observe the entire day in
the park - A Day in the Life of Allan Witt Park.
Here are some highlights, random facts and
observations:
- Commissioners: The 6AM-7AM walk was
spent with Community Services Commissioners Jesse Branch and Muffy Jordan. We discussed the
proposed development, tennis court usage and also noted the lack of
dangerous or undesireable characters in the park.
- Rain: It rained lightly for a few
minutes around 7AM!
- Company: Another Friend of Allan
Witt Park dropped by around 8:30AM and walked 15 or 16 laps with me.
- Softball: All 4 of the softball
backstops were used at some point during the day - two by the Bobby Sox
girls, and two by non-affiliated groups (a school in the
morning, and an adult mixed group in the evening).
- Tennis: SIX of the eight tennis courts
were in use between 6:30PM and 7PM, with at least 5 courts used
for most of the evening!
- Blues: Twice during the day about
two dozen children wearing sky-blue t-shirts streamed out of the Sports
Center and circled the tennis courts once and disappeared back into the
building.
- Police: At least three police
drive-throughs were observed, including one patrol car driven past the
skate park and behind the Sports Center broadcasting a reminder to
Skate Park users that bicycles are not allowed (this rule seems
unnecessary and ineffective, as bikes appear to use the facility as
much as skateboarders with no apparent conflict). In addition, two
police cars were parked head-to-toe near the southeast
entrance (off Woolner near the Ray Venning site) for over an hour at
midday.
- Picnics: A group picnic with about
30-40 people took place at the covered barbecue area in the SE part of
the park during the afternoon. Some childrens' games were organized on
the lawn area in front of the gazebo. Various picnic tables were in use
at times all throughout the day.
- Playgrounds: The playground areas
were used most heavily in the late afternoon and evening. Many children
tried to drink from the non-functioning water fountain near the
playground on the West Texas side of the park. This should be repaired
as soon as possible.
- More Company: Another Friend of
Allan Witt Park came to the 7PM walk, and made the final 6 laps much
more enjoyable.
- Walk The Parks: There seemed to be
around 20 or more walkers at each hour of Walk The Parks. The staff
were very helpful and supportive. The program will be held again the
week of August 14-18 (visit the Community Services
website or call (707) 428-7714 for information). Allan Witt Park is
not one of the five parks listed for next month (but please feel free
to request it).
- Park Maintenance:
At least one Public Works employee was at work the whole day cleaning
and tending the park - starting at about 7AM cleaning the restrooms,
then picking up litter along the east side of the park. In the
afternoon a riding mower zipped around several of the knolls, expertly
guided at about 10MPH! The maintenance crew was working hard to keep
Allan Witt Park looking neat and tidy.
- Summary: Total laps for the day: 85
(= 42.5 miles!) Lap times varied from about 8 to 12 minutes, averaging
just under 10 minutes a lap, or slightly better than 3MPH. Shoes and
sox were changed four times. Two apples, a liter of gatorade and
lots of water were consumed during the walk. Minor blistering on left
forefoot, some soreness.
Brad Smith |
