Pedestrian Awareness Week

One of the Scavenger Hunt Sites








Pedestrian Awareness Week is underway. Yesterday was the Kick-Off Breakfast Walk and tomorrow will be a walkability audit and the booth at First Friday ArtWalk. There is still time to complete the Scavenger Hunt and qualify for great prizes (turn answers in at booth tomorrow, 4 pm - 7 pm). Here are the activities:

Friday, October 2
Sunnyside – Fourth Street Walkability Audit
How to Conduct a Walkability Audit Workshop
Coconino County Health Department, Ponderosa Room
2625 North King Street
8:30 – 11:00 am
A walkability audit is a community-based exercise intended to highlight opportunities, identify obstacles, and evaluate how easy it is to get around your neighborhood on foot.
The first part of this event (from 8:30 to 9:30) will include a workshop on how to conduct
a walkability audit. The second part (starting at 9:30 am) will be an on-the-ground walkability audit of the Fourth Street corridor in the Sunnyside neighborhood, conducted as part of the corridor planning process for Fourth Street.

Downtown Scavenger Hunt
Downtown Flagstaff
Wednesday, September 23, 2009 through Friday, October 2
Attention explorers, young and old: search the nooks and crannies around downtown Flagstaff to find Scavenger Hunt treasure. The Scavenger Hunt list will be posted on the City’s website: http://www.flagstaff.az.gov/DocumentView.aspx?DID=9916, starting the week before Pedestrian Awareness Week. Bring in your answers to the Pedestrian Awareness Booth at Heritage Square during the First Friday Art Walk to be entered in a raffle.

Pedestrian Awareness Booth
Heritage Square
Aspen Street, downtown Flagstaff
4:00 – 7:00 pm
Stop by our table in Heritage Square during the First Friday Art Walk to discuss walkability and pedestrian issues with representatives of the City of Flagstaff’s Pedestrian Advisory Committee and Coconino County’s Safekids Coalition and Safe Routes to School program.
Bring your answers to the Scavenger Hunt challenge (see above) and be entered in a raffle!

Saturday, October 3
Community Sidewalk Clean-Up Day
Kinsey Elementary School parking lot
1601 South Lone Tree Road
9:00 am – 12:00 noon
Help keep Flagstaff’s sidewalks clean, clear and safe for everyone! Volunteers are needed to sweep debris and clear weeds from the public sidewalks in the Pine Knoll neighborhood near Kinsey School. Meet in the parking lot at Kinsey School; tools will be provided.

Sunday, October 4
Hike the FUTS/Ride the Bus
Sechrist School parking lot
2230 North Fort Valley Road
9:00 am
We will meet at Sechrist School for a leisurely walk along the tree-lined FUTS trail to the Flagstaff Community Market by City Hall. The walk is a little over 2 miles long. With bags full of produce, we will then board the Mountain Line bus (Orange Line) near the library and head back to Sechrist School. Bus passes cost $1.00 for adults, $0.50 for children and seniors 60 and over.

Monday, October 5
Try Transit Day
All Mountain Line bus routes, all day
The Northern Arizona Intergovernmental Public Transportation Authority (NAIPTA) is offering free Mountain Lift and Mountain Line bus rides all day to give everyone a chance to experience firsthand how affordable, convenient, and fun it is to ride the bus.

Tuesday, October 6
Southside Accessibility Audit
Mountain Line Downtown Transfer Center
Phoenix Avenue, west of Beaver Street
9:00 – 11:00 am
The City’s Disability Awareness Commission will lead a short tour of the southside neighborhood to illustrate conditions that make getting around easier or more difficult for persons with mobility limitations – an eye-opening experience for all.

Brown Bag Lunch Presentation on Complete Streets
Community Federated Church
400 West Aspen Avenue
12:00 noon – 1:00 pm
Complete streets is the simple, yet compelling notion that streets should be safe, attractive, comfortable, and enjoyable for all users – pedestrians, bicyclists, public transit users, and motorists. Bring your own lunch and come ready with questions. This presentation is part of the week-long form-based code design charrette held in conjunction with the project to revamp Flagstaff’s zoning code.

Wednesday, October 7
International Walk to School Day
Killip, Kinsey, Marshall, Sechrist, and Thomas Elementary Schools
7:30 – 9:30 am
Join kids, parents, teachers and community leaders on a “walking school bus” to one of five participating Flagstaff elementary schools. Last year more than 1,600 children in Flagstaff joined millions of school children across the globe in this event, which is intended to encourage physical activity, raise awareness of community walkability, and reduce traffic congestion, pollution, and speed near schools.
If you would like to participate in the event or volunteer to help, please contact Kim Austin, Safe Routes to School coordinator with the Coconino County Health Department, at (928) 679-7213.

Pedestrian Awareness Week is organized by
City of Flagstaff Pedestrian Advisory Committee
Coconino County Injury Prevention Program – Safe Kids Coalition
City of Flagstaff Disability Awareness Commission
Northern Arizona Intergovernmental Public Transportation Authority
Flagstaff Metropolitan Planning Organization
Numerous volunteers
For more information, please contact
Martin Ince..................(928) 226-4850
Kim Austin...................(928) 679-7213
Heather Taylor.............(928) 679-7262

Fall Walks

Walk the Walk, Walk into Fall, Festival of Science, Pedestrian Awareness Week

from Jack Welch

FRIDAY 2 OCTOBER (morning)
Walk Into Fall
Meeting Location: Peaks Ranger Station across from the Flagstaff Mall
Time: 9:00 AM 9:00 AM
About 3 total miles of walking.

FRIDAY 2 OCTOBER (EVENING)
Festival of Science
Picture Canyon Presentation
Location: Museum of Northern Arizona
Ft Valley Road
Time: 7:00 PM 7:00 PM
Meet scientist Marie Jackson, Bob Mark, Evelyn Billo and Stephanie Yard to learn more about this remarkable place located just a 1/2 mile for the Flagstaff Mall.
I know I'll be there!

SATURDAY 3 OCTOBER
Science Festival - Walk Into Picture Canyon
Start Location: In front of the El Paso Gas Co entrance
Directions: Going East on East Route 66 (toward Walnut Canyon National Monument)
At new Home Depot Store (On East Route 66) in the new section of the Flagstaff Mall
Going East
At the top of the hill right in front of you look to your left and you will see a sign "Wildcat Waste Water Treatment Plant"
Turn left and follow that paved road to its end in front of the El Paso Gas Company Entrance
Park on the right side of the road and we will meet at the El Paso Entrance
Time: 9:00 AM 9:00 AM
About 5 total miles of walking
I hope you can attend
We need a good turnout for this walk
Expect a few hills

SUNDAY 4 OCTOBER (morning)
Pedestrian Awareness Week
Do a Hike/Ride A Bus
Start Location: Sechrist School on Ft Valley Road
Time: 9:00 AM 9:00 AM
About 2 miles of walking to City Hall to do some food shopping at the Community Market
We'll ride the bus back which can be caught across from City Hall at 11:15
Bring a dollar to ride the bus.
Join Cecile LeBlanc and myself for this fun filled activity

SUNDAY 4 OCTOBER (EVENING)
Science Festival
Moonlight Walk At Buffalo Park
Start Location: Parking Lot at Buffalo Park
Time: 7:00 PM 7:00 PM
A fun walk in Buffalo Park after dark to view the moon and what ever else my friends
Ann and Tony can point out. About 2 total miles of walking.

TUESDAY 6 OCTOBER
Walk Into Fall
Location: Adult Center
Time: 9:00 AM 9:00 AM
A 3 mile walk in and around the surrounding neighborhood
Fast and Slow Pace

Is that fennel in your backpack?

I love the bounty of the fall season. I love going to the Farmer's Market on 4th and smelling the roasting chiles. Yum. I usually buy a quarter of a case (?) of the mild or medium chiles. Meanwhile, folks around me are buying cases of the hot chiles. I wonder what they do with them. I'd love to hang out in their kitchens.
This year I have finally been a regular visitor to the seasonal Farmer's Market, downtown. We have been walking or riding our bikes down to get the fresh melons, leeks, onions, and garlic. One week I purchased some fennel for a salad and put it in my backpack. We then headed over to the craft show going on in the nearby park. A woman saw a fennel frond peeking out and asked, "Is that fennel in your backpack?" Turns out she had been looking for the market but ended up at the craft show, thinking that was it. I was happy to point it out to her. By the way, the fennel salad was delicious.




Corn from our Flagstaff garden.





hubby roasting chiles and onions (and corn?)





Watermelon grown in our garden in Flagstaff. This started from a volunteer seed (we didn't plant it. It didn't quite finish but looks good, eh?





Yummy tomatoes and cucumbers from a friend's garden in Utah

Walk Into Fall, Walk the Walk, Festival of Science
from Jack Welch

FRIDAY 25 SEPTEMBER
Walk Into Fall
Location: Aquaplex Parking Lot next to Huntington
Time: 8:00 AM
About 3 total miles of walking in and around this interesting neighborhood
Fast and Slow Pace

SATURDAY 26 SEPTEMBER
Festival Of Science in Wheeler Park
Time: 10AM - 2PM
I'll be hanging around the Picture Canyon booth the whole time so a visit
from you would be much appreciated.

SATURDAY 26 SEPTEMBER
Walk The Walk
In Search of the Wholly White Goat
A Walk to The John Elden Grave and Homestead Site
Start Location: Parking Area at the corner of Mountain Meadow and El Paso Drives From 89 (in front of the Flagstaff Mall) Turn onto Cummings (next to the Pizza Hut) and
follow that road around to El Paso Drive (next to Christensen School). Mountain Meadow
Drive is at the end of El Paso Drive near the Mountain Meadow Farm.
Time: 4:00 PM 4:00 PM
About 4 total miles of walking on some really hilly terrain up to the John Elden Grave, homestead and spring sites. Also where the famous Mt Elden fire started. There's a feral white goat running loose up in that area and if we are lucky we'll get to see it. Also, The Mountain Meadow Farm is always a beautiful place to see.

SUNDAY 27 SEPTEMBER
Scalaway Mountain Climb
O'Leary Peak
Start Location: The trailhead is located just before the entrance into Sunset National Monument Turn at the Sign "O'Leary Group Camp Site" and follow the road back to the
trailhead.
Start Time: 7:00 AM 7:00 AM
Distance: About 10 total miles.
This is an exposed trail - mostly on an open road - which is why we are starting at 7:00 AM
But its worth it! The views of Sunset Crater, the lava field and the wonderful look into the Painted Desert from the Fire Tower are excellent. If you choose to do only one of these mountain climbs O'Leary is the one to do.

TUESDAY 29 SEPTEMBER
Walk Into Fall
Location: Adult Center
Time: 8:00 AM
About 3 total miles of walking in and around the surrounding neighborhood
Fast and Slow Pace

NPS/USFS Interpretive Hikes
from Stephen Hirst

Our 2009 swan song is set for next Sunday, and it takes us out in style. This has been another wonderful summer discovering our surroundings together, and we'll count on having you back next season. If any events of interest to you outdoor fanatics come up in the meantime, we'll try to notify you. And I will continue to be at the top of the Skyride on weekends until it shuts down for the season, sometime around mid-October, so come up and visit.

SNOWBOWL RANGER TALKS
USFS interpretive rangers Steve and Lois Hirst answer questions and give periodic presentations at the top of the scenic Skyride every weekend from 10 am to 4 pm Friday through Sunday until the end of fall color or the onset of wintry weather shuts us down to gear up for ski season. On October 4 during the Festival of Science, rangers Jane Jackson and Karen Malis-Clark will join them. The Skyride takes passengers to 11,500 feet above sea level for the greatest view in the Southwest.

Sunday, September 27, 9 to noon
Walk in Beauty new hike
Beginning at 8600 feet at the top of Lockett Meadow Campground, Steve and Lois Hirst will finish the season on the new Inner Basin trail that winds two miles up through old-growth forest and a vast aspen grove to meet the Pipeline Road 800 feet above. On no other trail occur so many stunning examples of every tree found on the Peaks. Arrange carpooling to the max and arrive early or camp at Lockett overnight due to high visitation with the onset of fall color! At least we hope for fall color; but it will be beautiful, color or not.

Go 12 miles north of Flagstaff on Highway 89 and go left across the divided highway at the Sunset Crater NM intersection onto FR 552 toward the Peaks. Follow signs approximately four miles to Lockett Meadow. Park in one of day-use parking areas and meet at upper end of campground. Difficulty: moderate with 800+ elevation change and four-mile round trip. Wear sturdy hiking shoes and bring water and lunch. Trekking poles helpful. Call 527-8222 for information.

It's been awhile...

I didn't mean to wait so long to post again, but I have been out of town and then distracted. I went to Utah to visit with some friends. When I left Flagstaff it was late summer, almost-need-pants kind of weather. When I got back, four days later, it was full-fledged fall, thankful-for-a-jacket-in-the-morning temperature. And the leaves were changing.
There is still a ton of walking to do here in Flagstaff: fall hikes to see the aspen color, Festival of Science starts Friday, Farmer's Market continues until October 11 and Pedestrian Awareness Week starts next Wednesday, September 30. Be sure to do the Downtown Scavenger Hunt, as well as the other activities.

Walk the Walk, Walk into Fall, Senior Games, Workdays and more
from Jack Welch

FRIDAY 18 SEPTEMBER
Walk Into Fall
Start Location: Flagstaff Aquaplex
Corner of 4th Street and Huntington
just south of the 4th Street Overpass
Time: 8:00 AM
About 3 total miles of walking in and around the surrounding neighborhood

SATURDAY AND SUNDAY - SENIOR GAMES
SEPTEMBER 19TH AND SEPTEMBER 20
Pick up a registration packet at the Adult Center
The 10K Walk is on the 12th of September with a 7:00 AM start time

SATURDAY 19 SEPTEMBER
Flagstaff Loop Trail Work Day
Please check the Flagstaff Biking Web Site for more details.

TUESDAY 22 SEPTEMBER (morning)
Walk Into Fall
Start Location: Adult Center
Time: 8:00 AM
About 3 total miles of walking in and around the surrounding neighborhood

TUESDAY 22 SEPTEMBER (evening)
Flagstaff City Fest - I will be at the Picture Canyon Booth
Flagstaff City Hall
Time: 4:30 PM until 7:00 PM
Table top displays of this wonderful community asset.


NPS/USFS INTERPRETIVE HIKES
from Stephen Hirst

Thursday, September 17, 9 am to noon
Kachina Trail
Ranger Jane Jackson will guide a walk on one of Flagstaff's most beautiful trails with spectacular views and deep forest. Meet at the Kachina trailhead in first lower Snowbowl parking lot on right after entrance sign near top of Snowbowl Road. Difficulty: moderate. Wear hiking shoes and bring water and snack or lunch. Call 527-8222 for information.

Friday, September 18, 9 to 11 am
Building Lake Mary new hike
Join Steve and Lois Hirst on a short walk around the old Lower Lake Mary dam uncovering things you've always wondered about Flagstaff's history. Who was John Clark? How did Flagstaff get its name? Where did the Babbitts begin the CO Bar ranch? (You may be surprised) Did Lake Mary cover an underwater railway? What did Tim Riordan characterize as his greatest contribution to Flagstaff? (Hint: It wasn't Arizona Lumber & Timber) Call 527-8222 for information. Go six miles south on Lake Mary Road and pull into the Public-
Use area past the store and before the old dam. Meet in the parking
area.


Saturday, September 19, 3 pm
Nature Walk
Ranger John Westerlund will lead an informative hour-long walk for the whole family on the Dairy Springs Loop Trail. Meet at Dairy Springs amphitheater at 3 pm. Go 20 miles south of Flagstaff on Lake Mary Road to Mormon Lake turnoff. Proceed 3.5 miles to Dairy Springs. Call 526-1157 ext 273 for information.

Sunday, September 27, 9 to noon
Walk in Beauty- new hike
Beginning at 8600 feet at the top of Lockett Meadow Campground, Steve and Lois Hirst will finish the season on the new Inner Basin trail that winds two miles up through old-growth forest and a vast aspen grove to meet the Pipeline Road 800 feet above. On no other trail occur so many stunning examples of every tree found on the Peaks. Arrange carpooling to the max and arrive early or camp at Lockett overnight due to high visitation with the onset of fall color!

Go 12 miles north of Flagstaff on Highway 89 and go left across the divided highway at the Sunset Crater NM intersection onto FR 552 toward the Peaks. Follow signs approximately four miles to Lockett Meadow. Park in one of day-use parking areas and meet at upper end of campground. Difficulty: moderate with 800+ elevation change and four-mile round trip. Wear sturdy hiking shoes and bring water and lunch. Trekking poles helpful. Call 527-8222 for information.

Challenge update

How is the alternative transportation challenge going? So, so. I can't say I have eliminated all unnecessary car travel but I have reduced it. Here are some positive results from the challenge:
* I now walk or ride my bike to nearby events/ appointments/ shopping.
* Many days I avoid driving altogether.
* I am walking more than ever and feeling better for it.
* My son and I have made many carless trips to downtown Flagstaff.
I have far to go with my personal challenge, but I am enjoying the journey. One fun experience I had this past Sunday was a combination walk/ bus ride. My son and I started off by walking along the FUTS trail in Coconino Estates. What a treasure that trail is! Beautiful tree-lined, off-the-street walking/biking trail. We followed the FUTS to the downtown library and Sunday's Farmer's Market. Turns out the Route 66 celebration was also going on, so we picked up some melons, checked out some cool cars and then headed for the bus stop. We rode the Mountain Line bus back to the base of the hill near our home- very convenient bus stop. I now have no excuses for not riding the bus. This trip was in preparation for the upcoming Pedestrian Awareness Week. More on that later.
I am a little behind in getting the photo of the week posted. If you have any photos you would like to share, please email them to me. cleblanc46 at
gmail dot com. Family, I fixed the comment section, so you can now post your comments under "anonymous" without having to log in.