Blackstone Boulevard is a long street, located in Providence, not far from the city line where you'd cross into Pawtucket. The narrow strip in the middle is a kind of park. Well, definitely a park at the end that abuts Hope Street, where you'll see a statue and a playground. The rest is grass, trees, dirt, with the occasional bench and a few shelters.
This is not what people usually think of as getting back to nature. Walking it you see traffic on either side of you. Houses as well. But in terms of getting you out of yourself, it does the job.
This is not what people usually think of as getting back to nature. Walking it you see traffic on either side of you. Houses as well. But in terms of getting you out of yourself, it does the job.
2 comments:
I remember Blackstone Blvd but not well - I definitely never walked along its length. All the same there are similar mid-street parks in a few other cities we've lived, Portland's Park blocks, for instance, which you may recall. Our first apartment in Halifax overlooked a similar one, like they'd left a few long urban blocks without building on them where we could see a fountain and people out walking or feeding birds.
The one we especially enjoy walking along here is an extended stretch by the shoreline that narrows and then widens out towards Beacon Hill Park and then continues for miles. It's a beautiful stretch where we can gaze out across the Strait of Juan daFuca to the Olympic Mts. in Washington while enjoying the grass, wildflowers, woods, and various creatures who inhabit the area - hummingbirds, gulls, the occasional deer, and even the dogs that are allowed off their leashes. You'd like it.
I do remember there being some very nice views in Portland. Being near the river gave the air a pleasant dewy feel, I think. I'm sorry I never got out to Halifax. The pictures I saw were pretty keen. Fountains are a good gathering place, or just somewhere to hang out by yourself.
Beacon Hill Park. Did we make it out there when I was a kid? Online I saw a picture of their totem pole, which seemed to ring a bell (and is also visually stunning.) Anyway, I like the thought of it.
Post a Comment