No Planning, No Rules

As an occasional jogger, a dog owner, and a cyclist, I've been to every local park within reasonable driving distance many, many times.

One of my current favorites is the South Russel Village Park off Bell Road just west of 306. The facilities are minimal. There is a gravel parking lot, a couple benches, and a big field (about 90 acres) that is mowed. A system of paths is mowed into the long grass in the summer. In the fall, it's all cut, so it's an open savanna.

People jog, walk, walk their dogs there, or let them run around, or just hang out on blankets way out in the middle of the field. Unlike most parks in the area, there is no leash law. In fact, there don't appear to be any hard and fast rules about using the park except using common sense. It's big enough, free form, and open enough to accommodate multiple simultaneous uses, so it actually attracts a large number of patrons.

I am curious to see how long that idyllic situation can last. Probably not long, so get out there and enjoy it while you can.