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People are hungry to experience San Joaquin River

Runners cross the Rice Road bridge on the Eaton Trail near Friant Road. The multipurpose trail is part of the long-envisioned San Joaquin River Parkway, which would get a major boost by a bill propsed by Assemblyman Joaquin Arambula.
Runners cross the Rice Road bridge on the Eaton Trail near Friant Road. The multipurpose trail is part of the long-envisioned San Joaquin River Parkway, which would get a major boost by a bill propsed by Assemblyman Joaquin Arambula. CRAIG KOHLRUSS The Fresno Bee file

I have been a volunteer/docent for the San Joaquin River Parkway Conservancy for four years. This has been an amazing time for me. I meet so many wonderful people when I am volunteering at the River Center on Old Friant Road.

I meet families there for a picnic on the circular lawn. I meet bicyclists out for a ride on the Eaton Trail. I meet walkers who have never been there before but are delighted to discover the River Center.

People are always asking if they can rent kayaks. They want to know if there are more trails they can follow and discover. They want to know how to get to the river. They take brochures about River Camp for their children. They ask all kinds of questions about the history of the River Center, the trails, the Victorian House, everything.

There is such a hunger, in the people I meet, for more ways to enjoy the outdoors, see egrets and eagles, explore trails, fish, kayak on the river, bicycle, or just walk a trail on a beautiful day. They want to share it with their families and friends, too. And it is all right here in our backyard. Amazing!

Linda Foster, Fresno

This story was originally published June 7, 2017 at 12:46 PM with the headline "People are hungry to experience San Joaquin River."

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