(Editor’s Note: April Cotthoff gave these remarks Thursday at the groundbreaking for Phase II of Hopkinsville’s rail-trail.)
I live on Irish Circle, just a stone’s throw up the road here, and my property line runs along the trail for quite a ways. If you can picture it, once you cross the Cox Mill bridge you come to the Y in the trail where the gravel spur goes to Sunflower. Well, pretty much down the hill to the right there’s my house.
We’re just starting to get to where we can see people on the trail from the backyard as the leaves fall. ’Course we can hear people all year. I smile and sometimes even laugh out loud when I hear a mom holler after her kid to “come back” or “quit eating sticks.” I can relate to that having had three little kids at one time.
And I imagine folks walking can relate when they hear me fussing after my three now-teenagers … “help me with this yard work” … “quit antagonizing your brother.”
Sound familiar?
This recognition of commonality is the message that comes to me over and over when I’m on the trail.
I love fitness and exercising, but more than the opportunity to pursue health, I love how the trail physically links downtown to neighborhoods to parks – and connects our community person to person.
It’s small things like head nods and finger waves. It’s shared experience and it’s joy.
It’s seeing your favorite preschool teacher running on the trail and veering over to give her a big high-five, encouraging her in her health journey. Then a couple miles later it’s being the receiver of encouragement when somebody walking their dog says, “You got this girl, you’re almost there.”
Walking and running on the trail is about respecting each other. People take care to alert others when passing, whether it be a biker or runner. We wish each other good morning. We check on someone struggling after a hard run to see if they need water or assistance.
It’s how my friend Marsha turned her music down as our running group came upon some ladies holding hands with their heads bowed in prayer. They were in a safe, beautiful place and were taking that time to give thanks; we recognized that and tried to be respectful of that moment for those people. These things are small things, but they mean so much to people … and they happen every day on this rail-trail.
The gift of this trail is that you need no equipment, no membership, no permit. All ages are welcome, all races, all abilities. You can walk your dog, push your strollers, or bike to work. This trail connects Hopkinsville and gives us the joy of shared experience and We are better for it!
Thanks to the mayor and city council for expanding this trail and its reach.
