22 Apr Walking for the Planet: Pinole Marks Earth Day at Fernandez Park
Participants in the annual Pinole Earth Walk looped through Fernandez Park, going three miles along Pinole Creek and the San Francisco Bay Trail.
Photo Essay, Denis Perez-Bravo
Fernandez Park and its three-mile walking path hosted the city of Pinole’s Earth Day celebration, where residents gathered to explore environmental initiatives, public art and local resources.
Attendees walked along Pinole Creek and the San Francisco Bay Trail in the park before circling back to engage with vendors and demonstrations.
Thirteen-year-old Richmond resident Diego Letellier and his mom, dad and their pet dog walked from vendor to vendor, including one with an interactive demonstration of a compost tumbler.
“You just put your compost in there, and then you have to spin it around now and then. You take it out, and you have compost,” Diego said.
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- The Letellier family watches a compost tumbler demonstration at the “Recycle More” booth.
The experience is one he’ll add to his growing collection of fond memories at Fernandez Park.
“I really like this park. I have a lot of memories with my best friend at this park,” he said. “I think that people should get outside, enjoy and embrace nature — God’s gift.”
Nearby, artist Chris Granillo showcased a public piano painted with butterflies, part of a series installed in Bay Area parks.
The piano will stay at Fernandez Park through the summer.
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- An artist works on the piano that is part of a park art installation.
Granillo said the imagery represents migration and the survival rights for endangered species like the monarch butterfly, which is threatened by the reduction of milkweed plants in California. Milkweed is vital to the insect’s survival as it is the only plant on which monarch butterflies lay eggs and the only food that monarch caterpillars eat, according to the National Park Service.
The art piece is meant to get people talking about the conversation of the monarch species while giving them a space to gather, Granillo said.
“The goal for this is having community come enjoy the outdoor areas and have a space where they could relax.”
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- The Pinole Garden Club was among the organizations with booths set up at the end of the Earth Walk.
Participants were able to enjoy the park’s central green area, which featured booths from organizations including the solar energy company California Sunlight, the city’s gardening and artisans clubs, Girl Scouts, Republic Services and more.
Melissa and Jesse McNair of Hercules walked the trail during their first Pinole Earth Walk to connect with neighboring communities.
“Well, this is our community. Even though we live in Hercules, we feel like we’re connected with Pinole, Rodeo and all of our little cities,” Melissa said.
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- For Hercules married couple Melissa and Jesse McNair, who both work office jobs, walking in Fernandez Park, is a way to reenergize themselves.
The couple praised the park’s cleanliness and trails as among their favorites to walk in their free time.
”We are excited to just see our local vendors and learn about supporting them,” Jesse said.
Working office jobs, they use this trail to refresh themselves. The event gave them the added value of seeing more of Pinole.
“We love it here. We bike, we hike, we walk, so we feel really blessed to live in this area,” Melissa said.
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