I’ve always loved this park, with its wide open green
spaces, ponds, and bridges that span gurgling brooks. More than three miles of
paths meander through the site, which is home to red maple, white pine, white
and northern red oak, and yellow birch trees. I attended day camp here as a
youngster, tried (and failed) to perfect my forehand on its tennis courts, and
even had my engagement pictures taken at the park.
On this most recent visit, Lindsay had a ball in the new
playground area, which proved a major improvement on the old-school equipment
found at the park during my childhood. She hopped onto the outdoor stage, once
slightly rundown but now nicely renovated and used for concerts and other
events. She admired the flowering trees, lush lawns, and little waterfalls she
encountered during her exploration.
In addition to soaking in the scenery, I learned of the
park’s connection to my current hometown of Venice, Florida. Both the city of
Venice and Francis William Bird Park were designed by city planner John Nolen,
a disciple of Frederick Law Olmsted. Bird Park was created and endowed in 1925
by local industrialist Charles Sumner Bird Sr. and his wife in memory of their
oldest son, Francis William. Nolen’s network of paths and waterways were
designed to help easily connect the public with the natural surroundings.
In 1926, Nolen would complete his plan for the city of Venice, a plan that would include plenty of parks and other green space still
prized by residents of Venice today. In fact, one of my daughter’s favorite
playgrounds in Venice is at the city’s John Nolen Park. As she skipped through
Bird Park, she may not have realized the connection, but I was struck by how
lucky I was to have lived in two places that benefited from Nolen’s vision.
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