A wonderful story capturing the essence of the Parkway, its educational and sanctuary beauty, so needed by those living in the city, and so accessible for the children of the urban neighborhoods along its shores.
Robert Sewell and his neighbors who understood the power of the river and Parkway to bring deep joy into the lives of children, and themselves in the process, have embraced the Parkway in the truly significant way all of us need reminding of; the powerful impact being in it has on the lives of those living in crowded urban neighborhoods and how important it is to ensure it is kept clean and safe for those communities to enjoy.
Call of the wild
American River Parkway walks are pure delight for city dwellers
By Blair Anthony Robertson - brobertson@sacbee.com
Published 12:00 am PST Wednesday, January 2, 2008
Early New Year's Day, when most of us were sleeping off the champagne and recovering from the revelry, about two dozen neighbors gathered not far from their very urban homes to celebrate something timeless.
The plan was to walk in the woods, look at the wildlife and be one with nature – without ever leaving the neighborhood.
As several folks gathered at 8:30 a.m. around the coffee and bagels at Sutter's Landing Regional Park, once the home of the city dump, they caught their first glimpse of the wild world just minutes from their doorsteps – a well-fed coyote shuffling through the riparian forest.
When the nature walk began minutes later, folks armed with binoculars and cameras spotted cormorants perched across the river, a far-off hawk contemplating breakfast, a pastiche of animal prints in the muddy riverbank, mallards swimming next to geese and evidence all around of beavers chomping on trees.
Much of the enthusiasm for such outings comes from Robert Sewell, a 65-year-old retired wedding photographer who practically beams at the sight of any creature more exotic than a common crow.
Sewell and some of his midtown Sacramento neighbors had talked over the years about the importance of the nearby American River as a natural resource, albeit an often-overlooked one. About three years ago, they started going on walks.
Last year, after they read the book "Last Child in the Woods" by Richard Louv, they decided to put their ideas into action.
The subtitle of Louv's book is "Saving Our Children From Nature-Deficit Disorder," and that's precisely what Sewell and friends wanted to do in midtown. They applied for a First 5 grant from the cigarette tax funds and began to conduct field trips for area schools.
Among those who were part of the conversation from the beginning were Stella Levy and Richard Cohen, husband and wife lawyers, along with Laurie Litman, a graphic designer, and husband Dale Steele, a biologist with the Department of Fish and Game.
