For most people who live in Alhambra, the pedestrian is a second rate participant on the city's roads. Car dealerships line Main Street in the north, wide four lane streets run along Valley.
So, to see Alhambra close one of the busiest north-south arteries in the city from 11 am to 2 pm on a Wednesday was beyond surprising. Alhambra's "Close the Gap" event blocked Fremont Avenue from Valley Boulevard to Mission Road from 11 am to 2 pm. Wednesday to automobile traffic as a way to promote the Interstate 710 expansion project.
Alhambra hasn't closed a street since the annual Jubilee ended a few years ago, but that event happened on a minor side street off Main Street that doesn't get nearly as much foot or car traffic.
Art Beanda, 46-year-old Alhambra resident, sat with his two children in front of the apartment complex off Fremont Avenue. After four years at the apartment complex, the block party gave Beanda his first chance to meet his neighbors.
"You see them and I mean, this guy lives here and you just say hi, but from far away," Beanda said.
While the block party is a great direction Alhambra is headed for pedestrian activities, the association to the highway project felt odd. It's great to see Alhambra close off a street for a recreational activity, but I've never heard of a pedestrian friendly event lobbying for a highway project. One step forward for Alhambra pedestrians felt like a step back by lobbying for the highway project.
Whether or not the 710 project goes through or not, will Alhambra continue to use July 10 (7/10) to promote the existence or non-existence of the expansion? Probably not.
Hopefully it's not the last block party in Alhambra, but it would be best to move this ped-friendly activity back to, you know, promoting livable streets.
And, here's a treat from Lauren Gold on Alhambra's amazing civic pride.
And a recap:
Kris Fortin was born and raised in Alhambra.
