A Walk along the Grand River

Passing through downtown Grand Rapids, the Grand River created a nice contrast between the man-made city buildings, reaching many stories high, and the natural world. As I left my apartment, I faced the afternoon rush of traffic with horns honking and engines revving. I passed concrete building after building, until suddenly I reached a path winding about the river and over several bridges.

There was a gentle breeze. The carefully arranged flowers and reeds planted along the banks of the Grand River swayed along the clean cement path and fresh cut bright green grass. I was a reminder that I was not truly away from the hand of man. People had planted the foliage in carefully arranged patterns. There was still a little natural disorder in the plants in late summer. Green shoots were turning maroon and wilting.

Seagulls screeched above the rushing river. The birds were scanning the waters for fish, like the many fisherman poised on the bridge with their poles and a trunk full of fishing gear. As I walked over the Pearl Street Bridge, I spotted rock formations crafted by people: a peace sign and a smiley face. Seagulls used these man-made formations as a perch to help their scavenging for fish.

As I looped around the city, back toward the path, I spotted a cluster of insect nests across from TGI Friday’s. Their nests looked like half-pea size circles of foam surrounding single pine needles. Some of the foam stuck to my fingers as I touched it.

Leaving the insects alone, I continued and looped back across another bridge toward the fish ladder. It was full of carp, some of which appeared to be several feet long. These big bottom-feeders were surfacing in hopes of getting food from passing travelers on shore. These fish may have lived in the city their entire lives. They grew and thrived here, even though there’s trash scattered about and the water may be poisoned from urban runoff. Carp are resilient fish.

Mallard ducks have also adapted well to city life. On the banks of the Grand River, these colorful “quackers” were resting under the Pearl Street Bridge as semis drove across and rattled the buttresses. The ducks blissfully ignored the racket and enjoyed their day on a mound of sand under the bridge. Pairs of colorful males and brown females rested together.

The walk around the Grand River provided me with a view of artificial, man-made and natural, plant and wildlife sites. This walk about the river made me consider how man and nature can co-exist in balance. The plants and animals can survive with some interference from people, as long as it’s not totally destructive. Cities should be designed around balance with nature, because nature can restore our spirits.