Bobbie Young: Refusing to take no for an answer can make dreams come true
Re “Expert shares vision of cities growing beyond functional” (Front Page, March 3): Loved the article on Modesto “Love Notes.” Other downtown touches are the Modesto Garden Club’s flower clock in front of the convention center and Ryan’s Memorial Garden in the triangle near 19th and Downey.
One of my favorites is the new La Loma Neighborhood Garden on an MID right of way, previously an unruly weed patch on Encina near La Loma Junior High School. It’s visionary, Rhonda Allen, was consistently turned down at almost every step of the way from the planning department to Parks and Recreation to the City Council, encountering all kinds of delays and obstacles. But she found creative ways and crucial contacts to persevere by procuring countless community donations and volunteer hours to make her dream garden become a reality for all to enjoy. It makes me “broad-smile-across-the-face-happy” as I drive by every day. Kudos to our dreamers who don’t take “No” for an answer.
Bobbie Young, Modesto
This story was originally published March 6, 2018 at 3:48 PM with the headline "Bobbie Young: Refusing to take no for an answer can make dreams come true."