




the visit every park challenge
*what began seven years ago
(link below)
* https://ididnthavemyglasseson.com/?s=parks+walk
with a walk in the park
grew into walking
all 152 ann arbor parks
over four months time
and
recently began again
seven years later
when i paid a visit to talk to the parks team:
https://www.a2gov.org/departments/Parks-Recreation/GIVE365/Pages/Visit-Every-Park-Challenge.aspx
discovering there were now ten new parks
and set off to walk them
while revisiting many of my old favorite parks
coming away from it
now 162 parks later
with the joy of experiencing firsthand
even more of the beauty that surrounds me
thanks to the time and energy
that the parks department
and the many caretakers
put into the parks projects
knowing how much the community values them
we are so lucky to live amidst these parks.
—
“city parks serve, day in and day out,
as the primary green spaces for the majority of americans.”
– bruce babbitt, former u.s. secretary of the interior
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That’s a lot of parks. Well done to those who provided them and maintain them, and extra well done to you for visiting them all, Beth!
Best wishes, Pete.
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It was a great adventure, and once I started….
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Well done to have walked all the parks in your area. I love the opening quote.
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I just wanted to see them all, and they each were so unique and had their own story
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Good for you!! (Does visiting all the parks on the internet count? Even a tiny bit?)
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absolutely, that’s the spirit!
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Congratulations on an accomplishment well earned, Beth!
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Thanks, mark
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well done beth. you DO have a large multitude of wonderful parks, that‘s amazing. and the quote! you are truly blessed, being able to live in such a thriving, nature loving community and city!
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Thanks, I do feel lucky
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Well done, Beth …
“The most important thing is to try and enjoy life because you never know when it will be gone. If you wake up in the morning and have a choice between doing the laundry and taking a walk in the park, go for the walk. You’d hate to die and realize you had spent your last day doing the laundry.” ~ Joyce Tenneson
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Thanks, ivor and love the quote
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My pleasure …
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I love that you took on this challenge with gusto. Wonderful. Makes me want to look into my town and see just how many we have!
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I was shocked. When I started I had no idea how many were here
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I can well imagine. Now, my town is surely smaller than your city (not quite 42K people) but now I am on the hunt to find out just how many there are!
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Get out there and report back!)
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Aye, aye!
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They’ve been transforming the park where I walk and bike from imported trees to native plants. Intellectually I understand why, and much of the native flora is very pretty, but I do sometimes miss those trees. They obviously didn’t take down all the trees, the redesign mostly changed one side of the lake, but still.
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A mix would be nice and the natural plants will fill in as they naturally do
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What an achievement!
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A great adventure
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You’re very lucky to have so many parks to visit. Land is at a premium here, and any open space around here is privately owned.
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It really is lucky
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Inspiring!
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Thanks!
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That’s quite an achievement indeed. Well done, Beth. It’s amazing that you have so many parks and great people to maintain them!
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So lucky
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Good on you, beth! I’m sure the parks dept. staff feel the same about you and your dedicated support.
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We definitely had a meeting of the minds
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❤️
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Bravo!
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Thanks, Jim!
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That is just amazing Beth. Bravo.
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Thanks, it was a labor of love for the parks
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💖💖💖
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Impressive and such a wonderful places to experience – Great Going!!!
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It was a wonderful adventure
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That is a whole lot of parks to walk, places to connect with nature. Good for you to take up the challenge. Loving the photo of you…
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It was such a good adventure and u leaned so much about my city-ty
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Wow , what a challenge and revisiting will be fabulous.
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It was a good adventure
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Awh, that’s a paradise. So wonderful what they did for nature and the people! The joy in your face is obvious 💖
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Yes to all!
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💖
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What a wonderful idea!
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A win for all
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yes, parks are much valued here, Beth, though living close to the beach I tend to walk along the tree-lined esplanades —
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Ooh, nice!
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No surprise that you took the Parks challenge!
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A nice adventure
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Love that quote! Nature is a gift indeed 🌿🌿🌿🌸
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yes!
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Oh my, what an accomplishment! Congratulations! At 81, I don’t think I’ll try it here in the Denver metro. Wish I’d thought of it 15-20 years ago.
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I get that)
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Wear that accomplishment with pride. Somehow I bet you’re walking days aren’t done yet.
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spot on, Pete. I’m a walker by nature and that will continue. thanks!
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How wonderful to walk in 162 parks and more coming, Beth! There are more than 117 parks in my city. I may have gone to about a dozen.
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that’s what put me on the path, trying to find the other parks, and it went from there. I had no idea how many there were. all 162 are done now and more parks coming in the future, being created as I write this.
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That’s a wonderful project.
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it was a lot of fun
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I literally grew up at my park. Swam, danced, was a camp counselor, did everything there during grade school. Portage Park. Chicago’s neighborhoods are often known by the name of their park. Like living in the Portage Park area. Parks were and still are important in the city. Having said that, I think you parks are far different than ours. We had a field house, sand boxes, swings, metal slides, an Olympic size pool, after awhile and drinking fountains. Baseball areas too, but no real woods, although there were trees, no streams or anything. Very busy streets were on two sides of it and regular neighborhood streets on the other two sides. I loved that park. We all did. Congratulations on a job well done. I imagine you had a wonderful time, saw many lovely things and enjoyed yourself immensely. Love your photo. Congrats again.
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what great park memories. yes, many of the little neighborhood parks helped to define it. each with its own story and so interesting. yes, it was a great journey and I learned so much about my city and myself in the process. thank you !
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I’m so happy for you. Hope your birthday was lovely.
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I forgot to mention that I really like the shap of your glasses. They suit you.
Best wishes, Pete.
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thanks, so much Pete. it was a leap that I’m happy with
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Wow! Impressive!
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thanks!
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You’re very welcome!
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A place that fortifies the soul. How amazing to be surrounded by parks. To not visit is wasteful. Happy for you. Congratulations 🎉
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agree, and I feel lucky
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What a wonderful adventure and challenge – and what a great idea to promote outdoor and green therapy!!!
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it’s a win on all sides –
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WOW!
Impressed!
Congratulations!
Right on, Beth!
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thanks so much, resa!
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🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
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How wonderful!
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thanks, Jennie. it was a labor of love
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😍
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Yes, Beth, your very lucky to have so many beautiful parks where you live! <3
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yes, I am so grateful for that
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