When I started making a list of all the things I
really appreciate and love about my country, I started with the big obvious
things and after a point I had to get down to the nitty gritty of my daily life
to actually explain to myself what it is that makes me tick and appreciate my
day to day life that just happens to be in America.
When I moved to Potlatch 29 years ago there was
only one little park down below the elementary school, along with a playground
that the city and school district jointly shared as what was basically a park.
The city acquired land from the Potlatch Corporation (the two, city and
company, were originally synonymous) to build a park. The land had an old depot
on it that is still there within the newly acquired park land next to Idaho Highway
6. That highway is a scenic byway through the White Pine forests of northern
Idaho, so the park was named Scenic 6 Park. The community rallied around that
park. It’s a good-sized recreational space for a little town of 800 residents
with a walking path along the circumference of the park, just under a mile.
There are two baseball/softball fields with lights, a beach volleyball court, a
pickle ball court, exercise equipment along the walking path, a disc golf
course, a splash pad, and plenty of space. There are also small rental cabins
surrounding an RV park that has restrooms, showers, and access to laundry
facilities in the depot. The depot also has a full kitchen and group dining
area.
This is the park that eventually took the place
of the awkward dirt track surrounding the football field and I was the coach
who first measured out the distance increments on the walking path. Eventually
I gave up coaching track to exclusively focus on cross country and now the park
is the place I use for our meets. I go to this park nearly every day to take
walks with my wife and son. I have attended community celebrations there,
watched little league games there, and ran there. Now there is a pavilion
detailing the history of Potlatch near the RV park, so I often direct people
there to get an idea of the history of the town and its roll in developing the
timber industry of the Northwest. There are trees and benches in the park that
have little plaques in memory of the people in the town or classes from the
school. There is a little pond that a friend of mine made in honor of his
deceased wife and now it also honors his memory after his death. It's filled
with gold fish and water lilies and has a little walking bridge to cross it to
a small picnic area. When you drive into the park there is a huge flag pole and
flag that waves proudly in the breeze and nearby is a memorial for all those
who served our country in the military. Just behind that is a little log cabin
and privy that honors the pioneers that settled this part of the Palouse well
before there was ever a mill town. And, of course, there is a beautiful rose
garden beside the walking path and the railroad tracks that is bordered by Iris
that bloom beautifully in the late spring. This park now is beginning to have
shade from all the trees planted over twenty years ago. I just love this place
and how it has become a part of my existence over the past several years.
No comments:
Post a Comment