A walk through the park in town, one of the few publicly accessible, wooded areas left in my city. We have lots of woods, but in the rural areas, and on privately owned lands.
Much of the city was once wetlands that had been drained and cleared for buildings/farmland. Only wetland ordinances saved the remaining woods and swamp from development.
I don’t know that this particular park was part of the wetlands, but I do know it’s the only free place left downtown where families can view the changing leaves. A land full of beauty diminished to a few acres, a shadow of what it used to be. I just can’t help but imagine what the city would look like if we hadn’t drained, razed, and paved everything? A city full of colors and beauty no doubt.