The Mariposa Creek Parkway restoration project is a priority project for Mariposa County, drawing together critical community partners including the Southern Sierra Miwuk Nation, Sierra Foothill Conservancy, the Mariposa County Planning Department and the Arts Council.
For more information, please visit the county’s website http://www.mariposacounty.org/1817/mariposa-creek-parkway
Wakaalətti’: Our Creek – Restoring Land, Healing Community
A Documentary about the Mariposa Creek Parkway Restoration
Partners, Mariposa Arts Council, Sierra Foothill Conservancy and the Southern Sierra Miwuk Nation are proud to present Wakaalətti’: Our Creek – Restoring Land, Healing Community. This film documents, over time, the restoration efforts on the Mariposa Creek Parkway, showcasing the ecological and cultural revitalization of this critical riparian landscape and the collaborative work of the local community.
The Mariposa Creek Parkway plan is a linear public park and active transportation corridor that enhances local biodiversity, fosters community connection and cultural heritage. Ultimately, the project will encourage locals and visitors to experience and connect with the restored riparian landscape of Mariposa Creek, while providing a space for cultural and public art/performance, recreation, and outdoor education.
About the Filmmaker
Lovely Films‘ Amanda Law has spent the past decade producing hundreds of short films, including three projects within the Mariposa community. For this documentary, Amanda and her crew conducted eight filming sessions from early 2022 through mid-2024, capturing the creek parkway in every season and stage of development. They also conducted in-depth interviews with key project partners and volunteers.
Working closely with the project partners, Amanda helped connect the dots to lay out the structure of the video, and present a story that provides context for the project and understanding about the roles of the partners and steps of the land restoration process. She was deeply involved in the video production process every step of the way, from writing to filming to editing. Local videographer David Boomer was also key in documenting important moments and capturing beautiful drone footage of the town and creek parkway.
“I absolutely love working with local organizations to highlight important work being done in small communities. As the Mariposa Creek restoration project changed, so did the scope of this video. We ebbed and flowed along with it, letting the video take shape in a way that honored the desires and needs of the project partners. Sometimes the hardest thing to do with documentary filmmaking is to get out of your own way, and let the story take on a life of its own.” ~ Amanda Law
Current Projects
The Mariposa County Arts Council is inviting community members to participate in a brief survey to help as part of a planning process aimed at developing a potential artist-inresidency program for the Mariposa Creek Parkway. The planning process is funded by a grant from the Arts in California Parks Program.
The proposed residency program will give visual, performing, literary and traditional artists, working in all fields, the opportunity to creatively engage and support Mariposa Creek’s ecological, social, and cultural landscapes with site-responsive artwork. Feedback from the community will play a vital role in guiding the design, goals, and structure of these residencies to ensure they reflect local values, needs, and aspirations.
The Arts in California Parks Grants Program supports projects that revitalizes local parks with diverse experiences that foster creativity, community connection, and transform them into vibrant hubs of art, culture, and nature.
Community members can take the survey by clicking the button above. The survey will close on May 4th.
The Mariposa County Arts Council encourages widespread participation and welcomes perspectives from all corners of the community.
Partners
Mariposa County Planning Department
Press + Related Work
- “‘Wakaal.tti’ Our Creek’ Film Premieres To Great Acclaim” – Madison Kirkpatrick, April 2025
- “A Milestone in Mariposa” – Mariposa Gazette, March 2025
- “Creek Parkway Documentary To Premiere” Mariposa Gazette, February 2025
