I go down to the river each day, a place i reconnect, one that helps me come alive. it is not merely a physical place, but is also the river of life made manifest in form. I walk through streets that often seem denuded of life to get there, streets without trees, past casinos, car parks, and low-rise motels – built not with care and love, but to make a buck. By the river it is different, not only when i walk upstream from downtown, along a path that was built where others walk or jog or bring their dog friends, through a park, or sit on benches placed there for all, places designed to sit and be with the place. Downtown, the river walk is the arts district, not huge, but another energy there, a plaza where the ‘kids’ gather, a family halloween event, in the summer a weekly market, my favorite coffee shop with a patio where people and dogs come in and out, people of all walks of life, a mural on the wall. An island in the center of the narrow river, where people pause, swim, ride the rapids in kayaks and men fish and ducks and geese hang out. the few older buildings that have character, not only 2 churches, but an older hotel, now a rooming house, but from days gone by, days when it seemed more care went in – when they were designed with people in mind. the newer buildings there have the facade, but something is lacking, a deeper feel. Still, this area is an oasis, one i am grateful for, but as i walk back out of it, i need to ask why so much of our built environment is denuded of life? Why we have allowed it to become like this? how in our actions we further it.
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