Wednesday evening on the Cox Creek Path, where weeds are showing their springtime growth.
For about an hour between 5 and 6 on Wednesday night, the bike took me on my usual route along the Albany riverfront to the east end of town, and then back a different way. In bright sunshine, these were among the things I saw:
Look who’s back on Waverly Lake: the Waverly Duck.
On Southeast Pacific Boulevard, a man reclines with a pile of — I’m assuming — his possessions.
Look at the progress that has been made in the last two days on what will be Albany Square Plaza, part of the Albany Waterfront Project.
The weeds on the Cox Creek Path tell the same old story. The Albany parks maintenance crew is not big enough to keep up with all the springtime chores. We saw this last week on the Perwinkle Bikepath, where the Linn County sheriff’s work crew jumped into action.
Maybe ckearing Cox Creek Path of weeds will be next on the sheriff’s crew’s list.
As promised, Albany Parks and Recreation got the Waverly Duck out of hibernation in the first days of June. And there it floats, tethered in the middle of Waverly Lake.
On Pacific Boulevard, a small mountain of stuff on the grass beside the sidewalk got my attention. A man was lying by its side.
I got back to the riverfront to see progress on what the Waterfront Project calls Albany Square Plaza. A lot of concrete had been poured.
That section of the Dave Clark Path should reopen to public use pretty soon. (hh)
I am Looking forward riding my bike around Waverly Park. I saw the same man on the grass with his stuff on the grass next to the road today. I hope the new upgraded Monteith Park will not be all pavements; we shouldn’t make a park look ugly to cater to the small population of the physically disabled.
I appreciate the desire to make public spaces both beautiful and accessible. The original drawings of the renovated Monteith Park did not appear ugly in any way, and they are not all pavements. In fact the new landscaping that I have observed near the community center is lovely. Making a park friendly to people using walkers or wheelchairs is the law, and not “catering to the small population of the physically disabled”. Instead, Universal Design means making spaces useable at all stages of life. I took care of my mother in her last years of life here in Albany, and once she required a walker or occasionally a wheelchair, accessibility sometimes became an issue. I was grateful every time we had an ADA compliant sidewalk crossing, or plenty of room to maneuver a wheelchair. Even I have had accessibility issues after a leg break when I was a teen, and after total knee replacement in my late 50s. Most of us will become at least temporarily physically disabled at some time in our lives and not be able to ride a bicycle around wherever we like. This means that most of us will have opportunity to appreciate these universally accessible public spaces as a human with mobility problems. It isn’t really a small population when we consider it will probably be each of us at some point in our lives.
Well said.
Thank you for posting your ever so true comments.
You hit the nail on the head! Thank you!
Most of the people I know that are disabled don’t have the luxury of worrying about access to montieth park. They worry about having enough food, water, electric, medical care and losing their home. They would absolutely love to go to the park regardless of the access but many have lost their ability to walk that far and/or can no longer afford a car to enjoy visiting any parks. Everyone likes to relieve their conscience by blaming the poor disabled person for their situation. Life is not fair and good people lose everything they have worked hard for due to issues beyond their control. Meanwhile Albany feels all full of its self by spending funds enabling people to do drugs, commit crimes and remain in homelessness living in a dysfunctional shelter and camp thinking it is an act of kindness. We all will get to the age where getting around is harder but worrying about access to the park will be the least of our concerns. Many people will just be happy to not have to live homeless in a city park.
Thanks, Hasso, for your update and your pictures….as usual. Yes, “a lot of concrete has been poured by CARA/The City.” That sure as hell doesn’t help this old planet.
Concrete absorbs heat, grass is cooler!!! Even though I have to use a cane it is still possible for me, and a lot of others, to manage quite well, Thank You in the grass. Check out the uneven sidewalks around town that have trip points and you will see what we have to contend with
Moved out of State four years ago was d to see Albany looking unkept so much tall grass, homes that at one time looked so nice today looking like I don’t care. Always enjoy your updates keep up the good work.
The city keeps pouring concrete and making “improvements ” to parks, while in the meantime our city streets are in a state of desperate disrepair.
Thank you for rides with ruminations. I grew up here when Queen Ave East was gravel and tar. In regards to tall grass, I offered my services to the neighbors who were in need for grass mowing and leaf pickup….Be generous with your time…it beats the reality tv shows any day.