Averybody Walks

A bronze statue featuring multiple figures on a rock formation, set against a cloudy sky with trees in the background.

…Washington Park.

—

by

Avery
in

Perpetually present…

Since I’ve been in Albany, Washington Park, which is right around the corner from where I live, has become my home away from home. I visit this park at least once a day most days. I’ve learned that it was designed by Frederick Law Olmsted, who is the same man who designed Central Park in NYC, beginning in 1869. It is a historical landmark in Albany, and serves the city in many ways, including hosting such events as the Annual Tulip Festival and Albany Pride.

A vibrant garden bed filled with blooming tulips in shades of yellow, orange, pink, and white. Lush green grass is visible in the background.
A vibrant field of tulips in various colors, including red, yellow, orange, and pink, with green leaves and stems.
A group of people walking and browsing at an outdoor Pride event with several booths, colorful flags, and lush green trees in the background.
People enjoying a Pride carnival with a merry-go-round and other rides in the background. Several individuals are wearing colorful clothing and accessories, suggesting a festive or celebratory event.

Coming from a small town in the middle of nowhere, the biggest culture shock for me moving to a city has been the lack of flora and fauna. I really miss being able to easily go for a hike in the woods, and even more than that, I miss being able to look into my backyard and see deer, groundhogs, opossums, and even bears. I love animals and I’ve always enjoyed that they’ve been so close in proximity. Now, the best I get usually, is a couple robins and sparrows, and fat city squirrels. I call them “city squirrels” because I often see them digging through the trash, which I had never seen a squirrel do before. This could be another reason I gravitate towards this park…this is where I encounter the most plants and animals, which give me a strange sense of security. At this point, I’ve only been in Albany for just about 3 months, and have only seen the little bit I’ve been able to explore so far, but this park has become the place I know.

A green metal bridge with street lamps, surrounded by lush greenery and raindrops. Trees frame the image from above.
A tree with fluffy, light-colored foliage in a park setting, with benches and paths visible in the background.
A tall wooden structure creating multiple birdhouses that resemble stacked miniature houses standing against a backdrop of a bright blue sky with clouds. A brick building roofline is visible at the bottom of the image.

Of course, another big reason I love wandering around, or sitting on a bench, in the park is the people watching. I’ve seen some super interesting or curious or surprising things happen in that park. I do my best not to cast judgements, and just take it all in as a casual observer, but some people, like the man who was walking his boa constrictor, deserve a little judgment. Seriously though, for the most part, the people I run into in the park (and Albany as a whole so far) have been super cool. When I decided to move up here, it was because this majority of “super cool” people didn’t live where I lived.

A historic brick building with two towers, arched entries, a large semicircular arch in the center, and red-tiled roofs under a clear blue sky.
Wooden outdoor amphitheater seating with metal railings, surrounded by leafless trees on a sunny day.

I’m sure everyone in Albany has their own opinions of the city, but for this new citizen, I couldn’t be happier with my decision to move here. It has improved my outlook on life in very unexpected ways, and I’m thrilled with the resulting changes.

So if you’re ever in Albany, stop by Washington Park…there’s a fairly good chance we’ll run into each other, and if not, enjoy your experience. Maybe I’ll see you there.

Thanks for joining me on this trip, and hope to see you again!

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