First Post: Central Park

A Walk in the Park         

          Walking along Guadalupe St. in the suffocating Texas heat in August, I was trying to explore the UT campus area, like any freshman would. Coming from Virginia, I wasn't quite prepared for the unearthly summer weather here. I was just about to give up and simply melt into a puddle on the sidewalk when I saw it: a small park, green and welcoming, that popped out unexpectedly, like a desert oasis. When I was given the assignment to pick a place to visit and write about, I knew that this haven would serve me well yet again.

So let's go visit Central Park.

The Spot...

          When I visited the park this time, the weather had changed dramatically. There was a bit of a nip in the air, as they say, but the wind was relentless. I persevered, though, and made my way down the 14 blocks of Guadalupe until I reached the intersection of 38th St. I scurried across the crosswalk, then paused at the entrance to the park. I'm always amazed at the tricks a permanent place can play on someone's mind: this park always seems to pop up out of nowhere. You're walking along the street, looking at the small businesses all bunched together along a broken sidewalk, and suddenly, there's a lovely tree-filled park. I moved along the running trail, looking for a good place to stop and observe. Finally, about halfway through the park, I found it: a wrought-iron bench on the side of the trail--perfect for sitting and looking.

Get Your Bearings...

          I had a seat and took a good look around me. There was actually quite a bit to look at from my little vantage point. The focus was the bridge. Made of a hodgepodge of materials that somehow worked well together, the bridge looked simple and sturdy, with wooden planks to walk on, green iron rails, concrete support pillars, and a square of criss-crossing bricks to connect the bridge to the trail. This structure stretched over a pond, almost obscured by the tall marsh grass along the edges of the bank. However, neither the grass nor the bridge can quite conceal a green boat overturned and stowed away beneath one side of the bridge.  There were apartments on the opposite side of the pond from me. They appeared to be a mix of quaint cottages and Spanish villas, with limestone bases, creamy white plaster walls, large windows, balconies with wrought-iron railings, and red tile roofs. Some of these buildings had a well-trimmed hedge close by, but most relied on the short grass and scattered trees of the park for their vegetation. Peeking out over the tops of the apartments, I could spy a bit of a children's hospital, built very geometrically with box-like edges, uniform windows, and walls forming stripes in alternating shades of tan. Behind me, there appeared to be more small businesses, or possibly cheaper apartments, separated from the park by a low fence of dark metal.

The Main Attraction...
          Gas-lamp-style lights lined the highlight of the park: the running trail. I could tell that the area had once been composed of small hills. The tops of these had been leveled out for the red gravel trail that circles the ponds. It was obvious, even from my short visit, that the park is very popular with runners, joggers, and dog-walkers a-plenty. Despite this, the area still proved to be a wonderful place to escape to for a moment of peace and relaxation.

Until Next Time...
          Remember to stop and smell the roses, feed some fish, or take a hike...maybe even to Central Park.