A day in the park

 

The city park along Miller Street is alive with vibrant health and spectacular shows of

nature. Here is a place among the bustling daily grind of life in Bradford Pennsylvania where

many of the citizens find solace. To fully appreciate it, go with early in the morning, for that is

when life is wakening.

As one looks eastward, a visage of hardwoods proudly displaying their splendid autumn

colors encompass the horizon. The brilliant morning sun stages a dance of light on the leaf

covered ground, as chipmunks dart back and forth in some game of tag. Puffs of heated breath

escape from a talking elderly couple as they stroll towards one of the many benches that

provide a place to sit, and perhaps ponder for a while. The chipmunks quickly dart to the nearest trees and begin excitedly scolding the oblivious couple. One bold chipmunk, curiosity stronger than its fear of humans, follows the elderly couple, as they once again rise and begin their tour.

On the right side of the park, a babbling creek carries its chorus from the front of the park all the way through and out the far side. Its song: one of jubilation at the freedom it is promised at the end of its journey. A hungry fish can be seen occasionally flashing at the surface briefly before plunging back to the safety of the bottom. Inspired by the fish, the song seems to change somewhat. When the wind blows westward, spots of light from the rising sun shine upon the river like a mirror.

A short distance into the wooded area, playground equipment begins to appear. A high arched swing set stands stands poised to launch a gleeful child into the air like a pendulum. Strips of rubber are strung awaiting their next arrival. Nearby, a footworn trail leads to a serpentine sliding board that is kept at a mirrored shine by the friction of thousands of children it has ushered to its bottom. The breeze that seems prevalent this morning is throwing the leaves up into a cyclone at the foot of the the ladder making a rustle like dry cornhusks on the floor of a barn. A wooden merry-go-round sports the colors of Christmas, red and green. Its boards are carved with the initials of young lovers, hoping to forever immortalize their names together. Off to the left, almost eclipsed by the majestic trees that tower overhead, sprawls a net woven from used tires that are bolted together invisibly, waiting to test the agility of any who dare cross its obstacle course. The dark rubber lays in high contrast to the metallic poles of the swing set.

A group of energetic children, even in this early morning hour, arrives and makes full use of the idle merry-go-round. One unfortunate lad is elected to push the rest into a speedy frenzy, and begins the slow round trip around the worn path, breathlessly pushing at the edge of the heavy merry-go-round. A young giggling girl is thrown away and attempts to catch hold of another, but misses and instead lands at the feet of the boy who was pushing. He is now laboring to breathe and collapses beside the girl. To the dismay of the riders, the two wander off in search of more fun. One by one, the children dismount the slowing carousel and follow the pair off towards the swings. The leaves chase after the children as they make their passage though them, and begin create a hollow sound as they crash back the ground. They swing for a short time and once again dismount and disappear on the nest leg of their morning. Slowly the swings return to rest.

Almost immediately, a large furry red squirrel descends the rough trunk of a large maple tree and scampers over to where the children were playing. He is in search of food, and children often supply the park residents with sweet treats and bright colored paper candy wrappers that make nice treasures stored among the nuts in their wintering nests. Satisfied that nothing remains for him this morning, he quickly ascends the maple once again.

Further into the wooded grove, wooden horseshoe pits filled with clay are sunk beneath lights on stained wooden poles. Covered pavilions contain tables where large families gather at family events or celebrations to enjoy a meal that each contributes towards. A well-used grill stands nearby to offer the family chef a place to create his next masterpiece hamburger. Grey cement offers support for the spacious pavilion, and the tables are well anchored into it. Trash cans sit at both doorways, and chipmunks are competing with a large black bird for a tasty morsel that has fallen from it. Victory goes to the bird as he flies off with his prize. The losers scuttle away for a short distance, chattering to themselves, as if they are blaming each other for the loss.

Emerging from the back end of the park, a basketball court sits off to the left, adorned in a high fence meant to contain a stray ball. Leaves billow across it in a race to bunch up against the fence. Beside the contained court, is another cage, this one housing several sharp angled metal sculptures that bold skateboarders and bicyclists perform tricks to awe their friends. Cars can now be seen and heard as they speed on by. The little creatures are not brave enough to venture this far out of the safety of the woods. Here is where the city once again dominates the world. The stark difference is not strong enough to cancel out the feelings of peace that the journey through the park has left. A little of the park can stay with you all day if you let it.