Spring in Konehete Park

Pedestrian bridge to Konehete Park

Today, Luc and I again parked at the trailhead off of Thomas Street, but this time it was to visit the trail in Konehete Park. There is a cool pedestrian bridge that crosses the Valley River from the trailhead to the park. The park has an asphalt trail that follows along the river. I wasn't sure if this was "officially" part of the Murphy River Walk, but it turns out this was actually the first section of the River Walk to be built, and I did notice some of the same informational sign posts along it. Less "natural" than the first segment of the River Walk I posted about, this trail is a good option if you prefer asphalt and more of a park setting. It is lined with trees of various size and species, including river birch, poplar, dogwoods, and many more. 





While most dogwoods in the area have already finished blooming this year and are flush with new leaves, I did see one small tree filled with flowers. I learned is a kousa dogwood, which tends to bloom later in the season:


Along the trail there are several park amenities, including fitness stations, benches, picnic tables, ball fields, and (importantly!) pet waste stations. There is also a nice veterans memorial along the way:



The trail ends in a loop that passes through a small stand of stately poplars:



Altogether, Luc and I took about 40 minutes to complete this walk round trip - it was at a very leisurely pace with stops for sniffing, photos, and listening to birds. While I love the more wooded portions of the River Walk, the portion in Konehete Park is also one of my favorites. It is a great option if you are looking for more direct sun, and it is great year around even if other sections are too wet.




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