First Day Hikes

Is your 2014 New Year’s resolution to win the battle of the bulge, to start a new exercise program or to simply experience the great outdoors?  

 Then start the year by joining thousands of Americans on First Day Hikes at state parks all across the United States. Last year more than 22,000 people began the year by going on First Day Hikes. In 2014 thirty-one California parks will start the California State Parks sesquicentennial anniversary with First Day Hikes. For a list of the participating parks see the department of parks’ new release.

The First Day Hikes at Colonel Allensworth State Historic Park takes place on Wednesday, January 1, 2014. The first hike starts at 10:00 am and second hike starts at 1:00 pm. The guided hikes are less than a mile long and take approximately two hours. 

What:     First Day Hike

Where:   Colonel Allensworth State Historic Park

When:    Wednesday, January 1, 2014

Time:     10:00am and 1:00pm

Cost:      FREE

For more information about the Allensworth hikes call 661-849-3433.

Allensworth Elementary School Toy Drive

This Saturday morning, for the price of a new toy you can enjoy a pancake breakfast with all of the sides and experience the golden age of aviation at Tailspin Tommy’s Aerodrome Eatery.  As you eat, watch the planes take off and land from Fresno’s historic 1929 Chandler Field aviation terminal.

In addition to enjoying a pancake breakfast your donation will help a child at the Allensworth Elementary School have a nice Christmas.

What:      Toy Drive for the Allensworth Elementary School

When:     Saturday, December 14^th

Where:   510 W Kearney Blvd, Fresno, California 93706

               In the main terminal building at Fresno Chandler Executive Airport

Time:     7am-9am

 
For more information call (559) 268-2880

AmeriCorps Team comes to Allensworth

AmeriCorps Team Blue 6 started their six week stay at Colonel Allensworth State Historic Park on November 15, 2013.  The eight young men and women are the third AmeriCorps team to come to the park; one in 2012 and one earlier this year. Some of the projects completed by the other two teams are:

•          Painting the hotel
•         Installing signs for the cell phone tour
•          Staining and assembling an interpreter shelter
•          Fixing fences
•          Painting the campground armadas
•          Painting the Hackett house
•          Refinishing the floor in the Hackett house
•          Repainting a display case
•          Fixing and painting entrance gates

Stop by the Allensworth AmeriCorps FaceBook page and view photos of the AmeriCorps teams in action. While you are there let Ashvin, Elena, Mattie, Heather, Rick, Joe, Hannah, and Angela know how much you appreciate their hard work.

Board Approves Allensworth Bypass

At their November 7^th meeting, the California High Speed Rail (CHSR) Authority adopted the staff recommendation for the Fresno to Bakersfield alignment, which includes the Allensworth bypass.  Unlike the BNSF (Burlington North Santa Fe) Alternative through Allensworth, the Allensworth Bypass does not impact Colonel Allensworth State Historic Park or the Allensworth Ecological Reserve. Both the park and reserve are Section 4(f) properties, which are protected by the Federal HighwayAdministration.

On October 10^th the CHSR Authority issued a request for qualifications to companies interested in bidding on the 60-mile Fresno-Allensworth section of the rail line. This is the second section of the rail line and will run from the south end of Fresno to the Tulare-Kern county line just south of the community of Allensworth and Colonel Allensworth State Historic Park. 

Contractors have until December 6th to submit their qualifications, then only contractors that the CHSR Authority deems qualified are able to bid on the contact for the Fresno-Allensworth section.

Park Champion Day at Allensworth

Make a difference at Colonel Allensworth State Historic Park;

 be a Park Champion.

Come join members of the park staff and other volunteers at Colonel Allensworth State Historic Park on Sunday, November 17^th for a day of work. The event is sponsored by the California State Parks Foundation’s Park Champions Program; a program created to help control the growing backlog of park maintenance caused by unprecedented cuts to the State Parks’ budget.

The Allensworth work day will focus on applying concrete sealant to the park’s new historic monument and new campground tables. The sealant will help protect against damage from vandalism and the elements.

Kids 10+ welcome with a legal guardian. 

FREE CAMPING AVAILABLE!

Register online at the California State Parks Foundation website.

For more information about the Allensworth Park Champion Day call 661-849-3433 or email steven.ptomey@parks.ca.gov

Date:      Sunday, November 17, 2013

Time:      9:00am to 1:00pm

Where:  Colonel Allensworth State Historic Park