Coping with COVID: Imagining a future…
May 20, 2020 | Topics: Spotlight, Stories
By Eddee Daniel
In the more than two months of the pandemic so far, I have heard many predictions about how it will change us—as a society, even as a species. Will the distrust inherent in social distancing linger? Will the divisions in our culture widen or narrow? Will we become more compassionate? Here is my thought experiment imagining a future beyond the pandemic: What if…?
What if, when the pandemic is over and people can resume something like normal activities, they decide that…
going for a walk in the park is an enjoyable, healthy practice rather than a temporary coping strategy?
they don’t need to go shopping so often?
clean air is too important to go back to business as usual?
there are healthy alternatives to driving to the office every day?
essential workers, such as grocery store clerks, health-care providers, delivery people, social workers, law enforcement, farm workers, teachers, day care providers, warehouse workers, and many others really do deserve a decent living wage?
parks are as important to daily urban life as parking lots?
What if they decide that…
“buying local” is not merely expedient?
doing what’s best for the common good can co-exist with individual freedom for everyone?
vacationing at or close to home could be as rejuvenating as flying overseas?
going to the mall is less interesting than going for a walk in the woods?
cooking for your family is fun and tasty as well as healthy?
climate change is more urgent than the pandemic?
the social and economic inequities laid bare by the pandemic must be addressed?
parks are so popular that there is a need to create more of them and set aside more urban open space?
spending time with family and friends is the best way to spend time.
* * *
And here is my latest photo essay on what folks are doing in the parks. As you will see, hammocking and slackline walking are proving popular this week and families having fun together remain a major theme.
Cedarburg Bog State Natural Area, Saukville
Cedar Gorge / Clay Bluffs, Port Washington
This is the ninth installment in our “Coping with COVID” series. Here are the previous ones:
“Schools are closed, events cancelled, but parks are open!”
“Coping with COVID-19: People seek out nature!”
“Coping with COVID-19: People enjoying our parks!”
“Coping with COVID photo essay: All over the map!”
“Coping with COVID: Getting away from it all!”
“Coping with COVID: An Earth Day tribute!”
“Coping with COVID: The new normal?”
“Coping with COVID: Spring Beauties!”
“Coping with COVID: Meetings and distances.”
Remember, our “Find-a-Park” map can help you locate a park or preserve. Please observe safe personal hygiene and social distancing guidelines when you head out for fresh air, exercise and a healthy dose of nature. And, as always, take only pictures and leave only footprints.
To see the complete set of chronological images from over 100 different places taken during the COVID-19 shutdown, go to Eddee’s Flickr album.
The featured image at the top is the Menomonee River in Hoyt Park. Eddee Daniel is a board member of Preserve Our Parks and A Wealth of Nature Project Director. All images in today’s photo essay were shot in the past week.
Ozaukee Washington Land Trust is a project partner of A Wealth of Nature.