The Trinity Trust this morning sends further details concerning the grand opening of the Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge, which, as we've noted before, is scheduled for October 14-16. For those who like to plan ahead, expect parties and street fairs; the three honorary event chairs -- Ron Kirk, Laura Miller and Tom Leppert -- will arrive via a solar-powered water taxi captained by none other than James Horatio Raleigh Nelson Schutze. Says Gail Thomas, president of The Trinity Trust, "This bridge will redefine the Dallas skyline, making it a new icon for the city."
Which reminds me: This morning Friend of Unfair Park PeterK forwards this New Geography piece about another chunk of the Trinity River Corridor Project -- the Great Trinity Forest and, more specifically, the Trinity River Audubon Center, which you really must visit if you haven't. Long story short: Thomas and the center's exec director, Chris Culak, naysay the naysayers. Let's skip to the end:
"In the 20th century we created our cities to move as quickly as we could from one place to another," explains Gail. "We built these cities in the fast lane, for connectivity. In the midst of building airports, railroads, and highways we forgot the importance of walking, of having our human senses activated by our environment. Consequently, our 20th century cities have been rather cruel to human sensibilities. We seek a more humane city, one that allows for the complexities of diverse lifestyles while offering serene and quiet places that feed the soul."
To get to this vision will require a significant amount of development, over the next decade and beyond. Says Culak, "This is on the same order as building DFW Airport was over 50 years ago. Any resistance we have to it is just like it was then." He continues, "People want things instantly. They are still asking, 'What's in it for me?' Unless you go on vacation to Indianapolis, Pittsburgh or Vancouver, you don't necessarily know what other cities are doing. For Dallas, this is it. It's a city built on a prairie next to a river. The Trinity River is the only natural resource we have. You've got to use what you have."
