Safe Routes to School - Bubbles, Plants and Animals

This part of the route focuses on kids! We created something special for the children walking along Giaramita and Chesley streets between Verde School and Shields Reid Park. The Watershed Project partnered with local artists to bring their visions of wildlife to life, providing an enjoyable and educational experience for the children.

The first phase of this project was kicked off on Earth Day 2022. With community and County volunteers the sidewalks were first cleaned and then, using stencils, illustrations of bubbling water designed by a local artist were painted along the 13 blocks. School students drew chalk drawings between the bubble stencils to animate the “Safe Route to School” and the Walkable Watersheds route.

The second phase of the project kicked off on Earth Day 2023. After cleaning the streets again, community members and County staff installed stickers of 10 animal and plant species endemic to the Wildcat Watershed. The stickers were illustrated and designed by the artist James Takenaka.

In collaboration with our tribal consultants from the Confederated Villages of Lisjan, we integrated the names of these species in the native Chochenyo language, as part of our ongoing commitment to revitalize this important language. Can you say these names out loud?

To learn more on these 10 native plants and animals, click here.