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Baldwin Park recap: Mental health awareness walk drew vendors, highlighted route problems and will change next year
Summary
City staff said the fifth annual Mental Health Awareness event at Morgan Park on May 17 drew about 20 vendor booths and families, featured school and fire-department participation, and will change its route next year after walkers became confused by the current course.
Program Supervisor April Rojo told the Baldwin Park City Commission that the city hosted its fifth annual Mental Health Awareness event on Saturday, May 17, at Morgan Park, featuring a one-mile run/walk/bike, a vendor fair and family activities.
The event included about 20 informational vendor booths, a performance by a resident singing the national anthem, an opening ceremony at 9 a.m. and live entertainment from about 10 a.m. to noon, Rojo said. She added that Baldwin Park High School participated with drums at the start and finish line and that LA County Fire Department Station 29 suspended a large Garrison flag during the event.
The city provided children’s activities and distributed medals to walk participants. Rojo said the city received feedback that the route used this year created access problems for some residents because Park Shadows was enclosed and walkers proceeded past the intended turn near Palm (or Cricket) and Ramona, forcing people to double back.
Commissioner Anita Diaz, who participated in the walk, described the weather as favorable and recounted the route confusion: "Towards the end, we were walking southbound on Main, and we're approached. People were confused. They kept going all the way to Ramona," Diaz said. Rojo confirmed staff will change the course: "We're going to make that change for next year where we'll keep it going around the park instead."
City staff said they will add clearer directional signage and station staff at the route endpoints to reduce confusion, and they moved opening ceremonies and the start/finish to Morgan Park this year so vendors would not have to travel between sites.
Rojo said the city is open to additional suggestions from residents and partners on logistics and vendor placement.
The presentation did not specify total attendance, exact vendor names beyond partner organizations, or a final budget for the event.
