On March 17, 2016, 200 people celebrated the opening of the Palmer Bayou Boardwalk on the Knobbly Knees Trail in the Trinity River National Wildlife Refuge (Refuge) in Liberty, Texas at Liberty Municipal Park, which backs up to the Refuge. Lilibeth, David, and I went to celebrate and enjoy this happy occasion.
A “Veterans of Foreign Wars” color-guard marched in and planted “Old Glory” on the dedication platform and everyone stood at attention as the “National Anthem” was sung by a local singer by the name of “Sierra”. After that we all said the “Pledge of Allegiance” and sat down to hear from various dignitaries.
This was a different kind of event, with a “red ribbon cutting” and the unveiling of two plaques which commemorated the unique way in which the boardwalk was constructed. The Union Sportsmen's Alliance and others like Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, Friends of Trinity River Refuge, City of Liberty Bank, Liberty Independent School District, Student Conservation Association, American Hiking Society, Boy Scouts of American, and the the Houston Gulf Coast Building and Construction Trades Council donated work, time, or money to construct the boardwalk.
In particular “Work Boots on the Ground,” a program of the Union Sportsmen's Alliance and that has been organized by the AFL-CIO, provided leadership and member time to construct the boardwalk with local folks, Refuge employees, and others. The 500-foot boardwalk has taken a year to complete, and as Refuge Manager Stuart Marcus said, they had been rained and flooded out on a number of occasions and only needed a few more day to complete the project. Although the boardwalk was underwater again, due to more rains in the Trinity River Floodplain, the feeling of accomplishment and pride in good work done was palpable.
“Work Boots on the Ground” was developed as a program to show “Union Skills, Outdoor Passion, and Common Purpose”. This a “Crosswalks to Boardwalks” project which will help introduce locals, Houstonians, Texans, people from other parts of the United States, and international visitors to the beauty and wonder of the floodplain forests, wetlands, migratory birds, and other wonders of the Lower Trinity River (below Lake Livingston). This “Living Classroom” will teach us about how we all connect and fit in as “A part of Nature, not apart from Nature”.
And dignitaries and speeches we heard. Richard Trumka, President of the AFL-CIO, proudly recounted the history of the project. Mayor Pickett of Liberty welcomed the crowd and invited them to make the Refuge and the City a regular destination. Stuart Marcus, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Refuge Manager, talked about all the dedicated effort from people in the community and particularly his employees like Laurie and Bonnie who worked right with the Union members, Boy Scouts, and others on the boardwalk. Then with the Bison seal of the Department of the Interior attached to the podium, Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell congratulated everyone. She asked that we be quiet for just a minute so we could hear the birds calling in the background.
A few of us walked back as far as we could until water covered the Knobbly Knees Trail. We saw large Sweetgum, American Sycamore, and Bald Cypress and a blooming Little Hip Hawthorn tree. A Great Blue Heron flew overhead and the green of spring filled our eyes.
We had lunch with hamburgers and hot-dogs. But the best part of lunch was the fried catfish, hush-puppies, french fries, and jalapeno peppers. Of course we saw a lot of our friends like Maxine Johnston, Mike Lange, Tom Smith, Ellen Buchanan, Jan Ruppel, Ellis Pickett, and many more.
The Sierra Club salutes the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the people of Liberty, Texas, Union members, and everyone who supported and helped build the Palmer Bayou Boardwalk. It is said that in family we find connection. In this case, the family is big and wide. But that is the kind of family you expect when “Mother Nature” calls. We all must not forget that. We are all part of one big family, “the community of life,” and we all must help each other out.
Brandt Mannchen
March 19, 2016