Walk Along the Trinity River

Walk Along the Trinity River 

I live in Clearfork, so often on Saturday mornings I go to the local farmer’s market. It is always bustling with people, some of which shop at the market, take part in outdoor yoga classes, play ball in the grass, ride bikes, walk/run on the trails, or brunch outdoors at Press Café. It is one of my favorite environments, because while there are many people, I find it peaceful. Everyone is enjoying the outdoors and choosing to be active, both individually and in community.

One morning, instead of staying close to the crowds of people, where I often enjoy people watching, I chose to take a long walk on the Trinity trail. The further I got from Press Café, the less people there were. It was nice to take a slow walk and entertain my thoughts uninterrupted.

The water was static and trash floated stagnant, just as it had on our canoe trip. Yet, the trees were vibrant shades of green, and the sky was perfectly blue, with no sight of clouds. The breeze cooled off the warm October day, making the moment more enjoyable. I walked for a few miles before deciding to stop and find a place to sit and reflect on the nature around me.

In the Clearfork shopping area, they are building shops and restaurants where there used to be fields of cattle—and the expansion continues. It is interesting to note that while they overtake the land, they choose to leave some of it untouched. It always makes me laugh, because on my drive home I pass a field of cattle, only to arrive at my apartment surrounded by shops and restaurants. These two atmospheres just don’t seem to match. However, I know that soon these fields will undergo construction and more businesses will emerge.

Ironically, they construct buildings on plots of land, destroying the grass and plants—and then they plant pots of flowers and trees throughout the streets and walkways. As I pondered the irony of this space, I thought about progress and whether or not it’s progress to expand communities into nature—what’s the balance? What is progression and what is regression? I suppose it depends on the perspective—man or nature.