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Waking with the River

BY: Bill Rawlinson 24 February 2009 64 views Comments

Barge at dawnThis was the view that greeted me as I stepped out of my house in the Highlawn neighborhood and into the 27th street park. This gem of a park overlooks the Ohio River (as does my house) and it is always a beautiful sight to wake up to.

My daily routine begins with a couple laps around this park as I walk my dog and this morning the river was particularly beautiful. The barge pictured was working its way upstream at a slow but steady pace. The fog that provided a soft edge to the water seemed to flee as the barge approached leaving patches of clear water amongst the mist sheathed river.

I’ve lived in a few different cities that boast a river but I’ve never been so lucky as to live right along the shores. However, thanks to the affordable nature of real estate in Huntington I am truly lucky to be able to enjoy not only the amenities city living has to offer but I also get to enjoy a more personal relationship with the natural beauty that fills this region. It’s really an amazing experience waking up and looking out over the river every day!

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  • I don't know. I don't think I had heard about that. I wonder how expensive a removable flood wall is? You're right though, having one would be pretty cool.
  • Joshua Butcher
    I remember reading in the Herald Dispatch that a group of community leaders visited Louisville (I think) to view their removable flood wall. That was probably around a year ago. Whatever came of that? I think it would be great to have more open access and views of the River!
  • I love the way that bridge looks; regardless of the weather. It's just cool looking. When driving across it the cables almost create an optical illusion. Here is a photo of the bridge for anyone not familiar with it: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jrappold/437040548/
  • tmcchesney
    I live in Highlawn too, near the river. On a summer evening, when the sky is clear the water can be like a sheet of glass. The reflection of the cable bridge is something special.
  • Larry, even if you can't take the lead on the project it wouldn't be a bad idea for you to come and propose the idea and see if anyone else will run with it. There are a lot of passionate and energetic people at the meetings.
  • I dont know about starting anything else right now. I can barely get what I've got going done. I am trying to cut down wasting time which isnt working all that great!!
  • Yeah Ron, I remember when I was 7-8 and we would go visit my granny down in Porthsmouth. My dad would always take me to the Ohio. It use to run orange!! I have hiked along the banks here in Huntington and have found raw materials dumped by some of those in the industrial age. One company still exsist but I dont know if they still dump. My guess would be yes since there in the busness to make money not follow rules!! Theres something else to do!! I think the next venture will be east along the river. Dont shoot me Bill if you hear me coming out the trees!! Just snooping!!
  • Putting up some great murals on the flood wall is a fantastic idea. You should come to the next chat-n-chew and see if you can't gather a group together that would work towards making that a reality!
  • I wish they would paint murals on the wall or let school kids draw on them with chalk.Maybe they should tear them down and maybe put up dirt mounds like they have in the west end. Now that I am thinking about the river, I'm going down there today and see how much my trails have changed since they dozed Tent City. I have my camera 2!!
  • Good points John. I think some discussion is going on about a removable flood wall. I don't know enough about the flood control measures of the Corps to really be able to comment on it; but if it is true that they could safely remove the flood wall it would be amazing.
  • John Meadows
    Huntington should really embrace the river more. Look at cities like Cincinatti or across from it, Newport, Kentucky. Pullman square could have been just like Newport, and probably would have spurred more growth if it were located driectly adjacent to river. It would have looked nice and more picturesque. It's a shame it wasn't though. If the flood wall could be torn down (it's not particularly needed anymore since the Army Corp of Engineers built flood control dams further up the river) and integrated more with the city rather than being just a highway for barges, could help huntington out, i think, exponentionally. Think about how nice Gallapolis looks along the river. Huntington could look equally or even nicer.
  • Ron, I'm fortunate to have moved here after the stink was cleaned up. Thank goodness for the newer environmental regulations that helped save and begin to restore the mighty Ohio
  • Ron
    The river is a treasure that us 'old timers' take for granite. It is a wonder. It used to stink badly. When I was a child it would be frozen over completely in Feb. At times you could walk across, carefully. In the 1940's, so I'm told, kids drove small across. Have a nice day.
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