Meet Diane Wittenberg
WHAT DRAWS YOU TO THE ONE ARROYO FOUNDATION?
I’ve done plenty of international environmental work. Now it’s time for me to work closer to home. The Arroyo needs care and stewardship. As a former Chair of the California State Parks, I know how much help an organization like One Arroyo that works closely with the owner of a Park (the city of Pasadena) can bring: funding, partnerships, volunteers, ideas, actions. I’m proud of One Arroyo’s trail repair program that is about to commence.
HOW DOES ONE ARROYO WORK MESH WITH YOUR OTHER ACTIVITIES?
The UN has a large climate conference each year. In preparing to go to Egypt for the conference this year, I read a Stanford paper that mentioned that a viable idea for restoring drying out mountain lakes was to brlng beavers back. Though I don’t see beavers in the Arroyo’s future, I do appreciate the need for simple ideas – more river stone rustic benches, more of the channel becoming soft-bottom instead of concrete, maybe a large fire ring under the VandeKamp bridge for small meetings and concerts.
DO YOU SPEND MUCH TIME IN THE ARROYO?
Like so many others, my husband Dave and I walk our miniature black poodle down there. And, I have to say, I kind of like hearing the coyotes howling down there most nights. Crazy? Yes. But it makes me feel far away from civilization, which is restful in itself. And I’m excited to hear foxes are making a comeback in the arroyo.
WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE IMPROVED?
Access to the Arroyo. Arroyo Link (https://www.arroyolink.com) recently described revitalizing an old 1.5 mile path from City Hall to the arroyo. I like that. I’d also like to see bus schedules every weekend that go to the Arroyo from all the neighborhoods in the city. Another thought – the state parks have programs that bring and teach 4th graders in environmental matters, then encourage 4th those students to bring their families to the Arroyo. Maybe we could give them coupons for free sandwiches at Brookside during a visit. The state parks have been very successful with similar family-encouraging visits instigated by educated 4thgraders.
