Thankful for Place - 2023 Edition!
Hi everyone!! We are BACK!! Some of you may have noticed we took a bit of a break from our regular blog schedule. But we are back and will be reviving some of your favorite blog series, like our annual gift guide and our Giving Tuesday lineup! Today, we can’t be more excited to be kicking it off today with our Thankful for Place blog series, which details some of the places for which we are most grateful!
This year, we asked our amazing State of Place interns to tell us about one place for which they are especially thankful. Working for State of Place, whether you’re helping with ops, sales, marketing, data, or tech, you can’t help but catch the place-love-bug! Our love of place - and our understanding of its exponential power to impact every aspect of our lives - becomes quite contagious from pretty much the first day! So it’s no wonder that these odes to place by our interns are so touching and inspiring - so much so, that I am letting them stand on their own. Plus, you’ve already heard from me - your resident data-geek and city-lover - over the years about my devotion to place and have listened to me wax poetic over some of my favorite places. (If you missed previous editions, you can catch some of them here, here, & here!). So without further ado, I present State of Place’s 2023 Edition of our Thankful for Place post!
Linda Heidvogel: Vancouver, Washington, USA
Vancouver, Washington, affectionately called the ‘Couve by locals, is located on the north bank of the majestic Columbia River, just north of Portland, Oregon. It is a convenient setting, only a short 90-minute commute west or east to the Pacific coast or the Cascade mountains, respectively.
I live in the Uptown Village neighborhood of Vancouver, and I am so thankful for having this location as my home because it is the ideal place for going out for walks with my dog, Bandit. Like most, it is often out of necessity when we walk. Bandit needs the exercise and fresh air, and I quickly realize how badly I need it, too. We often stroll through our neighborhood, taking the usual routes that sometimes have us wandering into the next neighborhood over. It is these walks that have me exclusively grateful for how wonderful the place where I live is.
The variety of walkable places near my home never disappoints. While Uptown Village and the modest and quaint downtown just to the south make for great strolls, the walks along the waterfront and the adjacent national park top our list. It is rare to have a national park in an urban setting, situated adjacent to downtown, no less! The reserve of Fort Vancouver is a sprawling green space loaded with historic buildings, a garden, an orchard, views of Mt. Hood, and the Pearson Field and Air Museum. To top it all off is the sculptural Confluence Land Bridge (by the artist and architect Maya Lin) that connects the fort to the waterfront trails along the Columbia River.
Wandering these sites with my dog — the expansive historic reserve and the calming views along the river — reminds me of what a gem of a place Vancouver, USA, is. Having these idyllic settings within 15 minutes of my home in this unique urban city is truly remarkable, and I am thankful every year for it.
Illustrative map showing the proximity of Uptown Village, Downtown, Columbia River Waterfront,
and historic national reserve of Fort Vancouver.
Courtesy of Linda Heidvogel
Stella Celentano: Depot Park, Gainesville, FL
I am grateful for Depot Park in Gainesville, Florida. As an out-of-state student from Virginia attending the University of Florida, I appreciate the natural beauty of the park, a sentiment not universally shared by most students who tend to prioritize the campus's proximity to the beach. Situated just a 15-minute walk from campus, Depot Park has become my daily refuge from classes and studying. Despite being an active non-runner, I find myself at Depot Trail each morning, jogging amidst trees adorned with changing colored leaves and the occasional overlook—a rare experience in the typically flat terrain of Florida.
While the trail offers a hint of Virginia's landscape, the park itself exudes the essence of Florida. Its path encircles a large retention pond where visitors can spot alligators and Florida softshell turtles peacefully coexisting. This pond, designed as a stormwater treatment system, captures runoff from 47 acres of downtown and rerouted runoff from the adjacent Sweetwater Branch Creek. The stormwater undergoes a journey through various components, including baffle boxes, forebays, wet detention ponds, a braided stream, and wetlands. The transformative power of Depot Park is evident in its history—the land was once heavily contaminated with residue from gas stations, a cement plant, other industrial operations, petroleum tank farms, a manufactured gas plant, and of course the nearby railroad depot. Gainesville Regional Utilities undertook extensive excavation, removing over 147,000 tons of contaminated soil from a depth of 50 feet. More than 40 million gallons of contaminated water were treated and discharged.
The Gainesville Community Redevelopment Agency played a crucial role in rehabilitating the Historic Depot Building, now housing excellent restaurants such as Goldie's Burgers and Boxcar. Furthermore, Depot Park boasts the Cade Museum for Creativity and Invention. The park's remarkable transformation is not only a testament to its beauty but also mirrors the broader restoration occurring throughout the city of Gainesville.
Even my parents, who attended UF in the mid-90s, remarked that they would never have ventured to this part of town back then, as it was seen as unsafe and unappealing. Today, Depot Park has become our preferred destination for leisurely walks, hammocking, or sunset-watching every time they visit.
Max Kolotinsky: Tokyo, Japan
I was incredibly fortunate to study abroad in Tokyo during the fall of 2022, and one aspect that left a lasting impact on me was the city's exceptional public transport system. Unlike the often lacking and overlooked public transportation in many US cities, Tokyo's trains showcased what real urban planning looks like. The sheer scale and efficiency of the network amazed me, playing a crucial role in deepening my connection to the city's vibrant culture and diverse neighborhoods.
Having come from the United States, where getting around can be a struggle with personal vehicles or unreliable public transportation, Tokyo's super-friendly and frequent trains were a game-changer. The system's efficiency and accessibility made exploring Tokyo a breeze, allowing me to focus on discovering the city's wonders without transportation worries. I developed a genuine fondness for riding the trains – their constant reliability, cleanliness, and peaceful atmosphere provided a unique and delightful experience compared to navigating typical US public transit systems like Chicago's CTA or NYC's MTA. This experience ignited my mission to become a strong advocate for public transportation in the States, hoping to contribute to making our communities more walkable and connected.
Ashley Then: New York, NY
Although it may sound somewhat cliché, I find myself genuinely grateful for the city of New York. I tried to pin point a spot in the city, but I honestly couldn't decide, as my life was marked by frequent relocations. New York was the one thing that stayed the same. What I appreciate most about the city is the way you can go out for a walk and have your own little adventure. It isn't about the way you can walk anywhere you need to reach, but about the people. There's something about just strolling around, finding a spot at a cafe or a little park, and letting the city's chaos become your personal invisibility cloak. It's like a superpower, I can just sit and relax. It's an aspect I always look for in other places, makes me run back home each time, when I see roads and cars instead of people outside.
Malena Balcos: Cannon Beach, Oregon
One place I am always thankful for this time of year is Cannon Beach, Oregon. For the week of Thanksgiving, it is tradition for my family to rent a house on the beach a little bit South so we can see both Needles and Haystack rock. We gather here from all over the world - Sun Valley, Idaho - Seattle, Washington - Saipan, Guam - Belgrade, Serbia. Cannon Beach is magical in the fall as we watch the stormy waves crash and the sideways rain pour. We are all gathered together inside the house, hiking, beach walks, or going on strolls through town whether it's sunshine or rain. This place has a special lingering effect on all of us and is a place where we reconnect. The immense amount of character that resides in this little beach town shines bright through its uniqueness. I couldn't be more grateful for the area and the cozy, adventurous, humorous, and loving fall vibe it shares. Year after year, memory after memory, this beautiful PNW gem is something that we treasure.
Khearwoot In: Sleeping Giant State Park
Sleeping Giant is a rugged traprock mountain located in Hamden, Connecticut. The park received its name from the giant rock formation that embodied a sleeping giant. Its distinguishing feature provides a breathtaking backdrop to my school. Together, Sleeping Giant and Quinnipiac University create a harmonious blend of natural beauty and intellectual pursuit. Its iconic mountain formation provides a sanctuary for students, faculty, and the local community to explore and unwind from their busy lives. The park's majestic beauty captivates visitors into a world where nature's beauty reigns supreme.
And that’s a wrap!
Tell us what places you’re grateful for in the comments below!!