Yesterday after touring the home of Mary Todd Lincoln Kathy and I took a trip to the birthplace of Lexington. Most cities are located next to a large navigable river, lake or the ocean. Lexington is not. However it was still birthed because of water. Too often I take a drink of water for granted. I know there are thousands of people on our planet this very moment who are struggling with the pains of living with the scaricity of potable water. 
In 1776 William McConnell led a surveying party into the frontier. He found place to camp near the headwaters of Elkhorn Creek. Freshwater springs at the site made it a good place to camp. News from Boonesborough told of an unexpected American victory over the British at a little town outside of Boston. In honor of the victory McConnell decided to name the settlement begun near the springs the same name as the Massachusetts town: Lexington.
Kathy and I drove north through industrial park areas to a nature reserve that is the site of McConnell Springs, which could be called the birthplace of Lexington. Its springs at one time helped fuel Lexington's earliest industries. It is part of the Wolf Run watershed.
Today McConnell Springs park is home to numerous native plant and animal species. Its gently sloping paved trails make it a good spot for an easy stroll and it is wheelchair accessible. Along the trails there are markers identifying different kinds of native trees. We especially loved a big bur oak, its enormous twisted limbs stretched into the October sky. There are picnic tables and an ampitheater. There is an interpretive center with nature exhibits and interactive displays. I could picture the park as a good field trip destination for schoolkids, but the afternoon we went we only saw four guys playing hackeysack.
After our tour of the springs and wonder at the majestic Bur Oak we returned to the visitor center. We both swallowed the cold water from the fountain and reflected on the awesome privilege of enjoying clean clear water. Just another of those golden nuggets I take for granted. Forgive me Lord.
Comments(0)