Today, after a long time away from it, I went to play at Snail Lake Park with my favorite two year old. It was a beautiful day and it was fun to watch other families and kids enjoying the outdoors and playground. I met a father and son who recently moved back to Shoreview after a 10 year absence . They were happy to be back. My favorite two year old and I also went down to explore the muddy, lower pavilion area and then found a path into what he called “the jungle”. We were watching out for lions during our hike—none could be found.
I go to parks now generally to walk the trails and paths. Today helped me remember how visiting a park with a child invites a real exploration: of new people, of the mud, of the jungle, and of the paths you otherwise might not follow.