The Unsung Hero

Had a face plant in a cactus?  Yep.

Been startled by a few wild hogs? Sure.

Almost step on a coral snake? Yes, that too.

Those things might scare some people to death but all the things that I’ve experienced on our trails make me feel alive.

In the 15 or so years I’ve been running, hiking or riding on the trails I’ve also seen too many beautiful and wondrous scenes to recount. I sometimes listen to my music, really hearing the singer/songwriters that I like. Most often I let nature be my playlist with my dogs’ panting keeping rhythm. I do some of my clearest thinking when I’m exercising and have come up with great solutions to life’s many vexing issues. I do a lot of my socializing on these dirt paths, getting into deep conversation with some of my oldest friends.

During the countless hours and miles I’ve logged on our vast network of trails I had never given much thought to how they got there. Like most everyone I talk to, I assumed the city park department was responsible. I’m embarrassed to say that it was not until a couple years ago that I learned about SMGA.

I had to get involved and am so glad I did.

We should all take pride in our city for affording us this vast treasure and should thank those that have worked so hard over these past 20 years to vastly increase our greenspace and blaze the trails so that we can step into nature on any given day.

Have an interesting stories or memories from the past 20 years on the trails? Share them with us at [email protected] and we will include them in the next SMGA newsletter!

Diane Phalen,
SMGA Board Member