By Cinthia Villarreal
With today being International Earth Day, the City Fellows and LEAP Ambassadors decided it was a good time to explore one of the City of Huntsville’s Parks: the Eastham-Thomason Park. But it’s not just Earth Day that makes for a good time to hike, walk, or stroll in Huntsville, any day is a great opportunity to take advantage of the natural hills, beautiful wooded areas, or one of the many hiking trails in the area.
Eastham-Thomason Park first opened in 1993 and now consists of a total of 143 acres, including the donation from the estate of Marguerite Eastham-Thomason, for who the park is named.
As we embarked on our journey, the park welcomed us by displaying a variety of Texas’s beautiful wildflowers, including the our state’s flower, the Bluebonnet.
Throughout our hike, we were able to encounter different ecosystems that the park is home to. We saw an array of plants which went from the colorful wildflowers to prickly cacti, a variation of footprints from the wildlife that reside in the park, and the change of terrain, which at one point, involved us jumping over Town Creek.
On any given day, you might see a photo shoot (as we did)…
…any number of birds or other wildlife…
The Park also has a surprising varieties of trails, which offer new experiences each time you visit, from tight trails covered by low-hanging canopies…
…to wide-open prairies.
Eastham Thomason has many amenities for all City of Huntsville residents and visitors and it quite literally has something for everyone. It includes an incredible dog park for dog owners to take their pet out, an aquatic center for hot summer days, and a playground for kids to play. For athletic enthusiasts, the park also includes a variety of bike and foot trails, a nine-Frisbee golf course, a Basketball court and a Volleyball court. The park has three parking lots and restrooms for the visitor’s convenience.
A map of the Park, including the different trails, parking, restrooms, and more can be found here.
Leaving the trail behind, the City Fellows and LEAP Ambassadors left with a deeper understanding of wildlife, the knowledge of why cities like Huntsville promote and appreciate green spaces, and a much bigger gratitude of our home, the earth.
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