What a wonderful convergence of history, pubic service, a natural treasure, and family, in this story about William B. Pond, the Parkway, Eppie’s Great Race, and Pond’s granddaughter who is dedicating her participation in the race to him for his helping make the Parkway a reality.
An excerpt.
A river runs through Pond family's history
Racer's grandpa reminisces about parkway's early days
By Blair Anthony Robertson -- Bee Staff WriterPublished 12:01 am PDT Saturday, July 15, 2006
When Rachel Pond Camero lines up with the throng of participants this morning for Eppie's Great Race, she will have a source of inspiration no one else can claim.
The widely popular race, which includes running, cycling and paddling legs, all takes place within the American River Parkway.
Camero is dedicating her race to her 88-year-old grandfather, William B. Pond, Sacramento County's first parks director and the man whose vision helped create the parkway four decades ago.
In fact, Camero and 1,200 others will begin the 5.82-mile run in a place that just happens to be called the William B. Pond Recreation Area.
"I want to look around me at the trees, the river and the bike trail and think how glad I am that he gave it to us," said the 35-year-old Cingular business analyst.
Camero, who rowed on the national champion team at University of California, Davis, says "Grandpa Bill" attended almost all of her races and awards ceremonies and, these days, makes sure to show up for her kung fu tournaments.
Suffering from a variety of health ailments, William Pond moved with his wife last fall to an assisted living center in downtown Sacramento.
"Mainly, it's an emotional tribute to him," said Camero. "At times during the race, I'm bound to be in pain, and I'm going to think of him and the pain he is in, and I'll be inspired by what a strong individual he is."
While planning and construction of the American River Parkway in those early days was a group effort, Pond helped draw up the plans for a 4,800- acre, mostly untamed parkway that cuts through the middle of a metropolitan area. He also devoted much of his time as director to acquiring private property from Discovery Park to the Nimbus Hatchery to create an unbroken 23-mile stretch of parkway.
Pond was director from 1959 to 1968, the pivotal years in the parkway's development.
