MURRAY CITY PARK

MURRAY CITY PARK

There it sits, in the middle of our town,

A place for recreation, which should wear a crown.

Do we know what we have and do we realize,

There is more to this Park than we see with our eyes?

We see lots of things there, but we may feel some too.

There are so many, many things that we all can do.

We can walk or jog or just take a car ride.

The young ones can swim. Play ball, or even Hockey- inside.

Some play tag on the lawn, or walk the dog so it seems.

A group of ducks and some geese ride the rim of the stream.

Who was the one that had the vision? Who was the one that led?

Mayor Lester made sure the park had trees, so it is said.

Now the grass is kept trimmed, or manicured you might say,

For all to come and rest, or all to come and play.

Many trees were planted in 1924, that long ago year.

Someone had foresight so we could enjoy them each year.

We have an Indian to guard us, at the front gate,

And a cannon watches over us, to keep away hate.

The breeze unfurls “Old Glory” at the top of the pole

That the “Woodsman of the World” provided or so I am told.

We now have the Park Center, where there are all kinds of fun.

You can swim, play basketball, have parties, or just run.

You can get a Gazebo to party in the rain,

Or hide from the sun, so you don’t get sunburn pain,

I am happy our forefathers had foresight to buy

This magic piece of the earth, just for you and I.

We have green of the trees, and flowers galore,

In the middle of the city, for us to adore.

A large grassy field sits on a hill you will see

We can practice football, rugby and we watch for free.

The Amphitheater has many events that are real

A Ballet, Symphony or Stage Show may change how you feel?

If you want to see a movie, and most people do,
They are free at the Park for both me and you.
If the wind, or the rain or Mother Nature causes pain,
You can move into the Park Center and feel no pain.

In the fall the Farmer’s market does always arrive

With fresh fruit and “veggies” that help us survive.

And here in this wonderful open market spot

It seems you cannot leave without buying a lot.

I am thankful for the vision and foresight they showed,

When the city bought land from Messrs Smith and Freeze, then shared.

1924 seems like a good year, for they purchased the Park,

Where the Adults and the kids could romp and play until dark.

I hope we are all thankful for this wonderful prize,

That has grown much larger, right before our eyes.

Perhaps the other cities around us, as I surmise

Are a little jealous as we sit and enjoy this Great Prize.

W.R. Baldwin---July 2016

It is easy to tell I am not a wordsmith, but I spend a lot of time in the Murray Park. I have reached what you might call “Old Age” so I try to keep busy, and one of the ways is to visit this magic place. Sometimes I just sit on a bench or in my car. I may eat a McDonald gourmet breakfast and sometimes just sit and read the newspaper. No matter what I do, each time I am thankful for the people from long ago who had the foresight to set aside this much land, right in the middle of the city, for all of us to enjoy. If you have never, or even just seldom enjoyed the Park, you might want to just drive around some morning about 10:00 AM. It might surprise you at how much activity is going on?

Wally