Is it morally permissible to use the same New Year’s resolution as 2011? Because I am. You too may have recently made a New Year’s resolution and are ruminating and formulating a plan of action. Or you are obstinate about the idea and enjoy sitting in your couch of comfort. Or you may have just awakened from a bleary-eyed “slumber” and are realizing just now that it is 2012.
Whatever the case may be, I have the solution for your New Year’s resolution, whether it is wanting to save money, get fit, spend more time with the ones you love, volunteer in the community, try a new hobby, take advantage of your government (or at least get your money’s worth out of the taxes you paid), support local and even world peace.
The solution is to use your parks.
I would encourage you to use any and all of them, including the ones in your apartment complex or gated community, your city and county parks, or splurge and purchase an annual Discovery Pass so as to gallivant, explore and have access to nearly 7 million acres of Washington state parks.
Parks come in a wide array of locations and configurations, and there really is something for everyone, including places for tweens to flirt, moms to gather, homeless to convene and police to patrol.
If you like cute, quaint and quiet, visit Kobayashi Park tucked away in University Place. If you have little ones who love to frolic, there is the Tot Lot in Fircrest. If you have older little ones, head to the nature oasis of Snake Lake on your way to Target. For those into extreme sports there is a myriad of skate parks and bridges to jump off (notice I’m not telling you which ones nor am I condoning that behavior). If you are a player, play at Fort Steilacoom Park in Lakewood, the SERA fields in Tacoma or Sehmel Homestead Park in Gig Harbor. If you are a walker, walk on the rollicking Cushman Trail in Gig Harbor or at the sedate Bradley Lake Park in Puyallup.
If you are a penny-pincher, stop by Charlotte’s Blueberry Park in East Tacoma (free blueberries people!). If you are an urbanite, stroll along Ruston Way or through Wright Park. If you are a complainer, head to Kandle Park where there is actually something to complain about. The skate features are placed in the thoroughfare of oblivious children, which is sure to cause carnage.
If you are a dreamer, go to Owen Beach or Dash Point Park where in the sand you can pretend you live in a warmer place. If you are one with nature and don’t like crowds, try the new park off of Bella Bella Drive on Fox Island or Sunrise Park in Gig Harbor. Whatever your demeanor, stage or stance in life may be, there is a park for you.
Though like our resolutions, not all of the parks are perfect. When you go to China Lake Park in Tacoma, it is best not to let your imagination wander as to what lays beneath the murky water, and at Swan Creek where the trails dissipate into nothingness.
Nevertheless, we live in a beautiful, envy-inspiring part of the world. Yes, some days are dark and inconvenient because we have to layer up and get our shoes dirty. But sometimes the quiet eeriness of walking on fallen leaves or through a gentle mist reminds us that it is usually our attitude and the company that makes a resolution worth courageously undertaking, completing and enjoying, letting us glimpse into the world around us, bringing understanding and perhaps leading us to peace.
Kristalyn Simler lives in University Place with her husband and two children. She is one of six reader columnists whose work appears in this space. She blogs at kristalynsimler.com. Email her at ksimler@hotmail.com.
JOIN THE DISCUSSION | Register here
We welcome comments. Please keep them civil, short and to the point. ALL CAPS, spam, obscene, profane, abusive and off topic comments will be deleted. Repeat offenders will be blocked. Thanks for taking part — and abiding by these simple rules. A thorough explanation of rules of conduct can be found in our Terms of Service. If you have any questions, including why your comment may not be showing immediately after you submit it, be sure to visit the commenting FAQ.