In the US heartland of Missouri, in a suburb of St. Louis called Hillsboro, lies an idyllic city park with a few lovingly implemented recent additions. Hillsboro native Ryan Hurtgen is a multi-talented artist; painter, poet, composer, and designer. Readers of My Writes might recognize Ryan from his work with Rene Breton, TJ & Tosc, and Perfect Beings. Beyond music and literature, Ryan has a few more tricks up his sleeve.
Saturday, June 15, 2023 was the ribbon cutting ceremony for the reopening of Hillsboro Park Discovery Trail, a previously eroded and storm-damaged hiking loop through Hillsboro City Park that had fallen into disrepair and been reclaimed by nature.
Hometown Inspiration
Ryan is a native of Hillsboro, with a longing to make a contribution. He devised and submitted a plan to the city council of Hillsboro to rebuild, beautify, and renew Discovery Trail for civic pride, and future generations. In the course of a bureaucratic year, Ryan met and teamed up with other members of the community with a vision for Discovery Trail. After a year of assessment and deliberation, their plan was ultimately awarded the contract with the city.
Over the course of the next year, a team of six Community Trustees were selected, and tasked with implementing the plan. They were: Mandy Alley, Diane Block, Sheri Diestel, Ryan Hurtgen, Burnadette Kennedy, and Shelby Walsh.
They organized volunteers, procured equipment, and put in a ton of work. I repeat: They did a ton of stout-hearted volunteer work. Everyone got involved: teachers, students, sign makers, landscapers, carpenters, and any knowledgeable community member with a talent for renewing and beautifying Discovery Trail. Way to go! They executed their designs to clear, level, repair, edge, and decorate the trail. They also cleared and leveled the promontory which would become the site of the stone labyrinth.
The Interior Journey
The entrance to the trail is punctuated by a circular labyrinth dedicated to the observance of nature’s cycles, from the sun’s movement through the sky to the changes of the seasons. The labyrinth is made of masonry hand laid by volunteer members of the Hillsboro community; for and by the people, folks!
At the center of the labyrinth you may sit down on a circular bench and regard the landscape from the promontory. The labyrinth also has meticulously placed posts topped with reflective mirrors. The posts are astronomically aligned to the sun’s position in the sky on the solstices and equinoxes. So, it acts as a clock and calendar, as well.
Sonnets In The Real World
The Hillsboro Park Discovery Trail has many engaging and imagination-inspiring activities and installations, like an obstacle course and a scavenger hunt. The trail itself is a one mile loop in four parts, one associated with each of the seasons: Autumn Bridge, Winter Garden, Spring Nest, and Summer Glade.
Each season of Discovery trail features an interpretive placard dedicated to that season. On each placard is a sonnet, and an illustration by a local artist.
That’s where I come into the story. I have a happy and personal connection to this heartwarming community project. You see, the sonnets (well, three of the four) were written by, yours truly, Suhail Rafidi. So this post, besides tooting the loud and proud horn of Hillsboro City Park and its benefactors, also announces my latest publication.
Visit the Hillsboro Park Discovery Trail Facebook page to show them some love and read their sonnets for yourself.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/890248922150221
Thank you for reading. Reading rules!
My Writes 