Sunset in Huntsville, AL

This picture was taken 9/11/2004. I’d gone downtown to read in the park. As the sun was setting I ran up a municipal parking garage to get to the top and take the picture.

I’ve found Big Spring Park to be one of Huntsville’s greatest assets. It’s one of the few parts of the city that betrays the “cheaper and ugly is best” ethos. When I say that I’m talking about the over abundance of engineers in Huntsville. Engineers want to spend as little money as possible, and do not see asthetics or culture as worth paying extra for. Huntsville has paid the price as things have been maintained at just the base level.

Big Spring park was a lot more of a cesspool when I was growing up but it’s improved a lot while I’ve been gone. The city has an ambitious plan to revamp the whole downtown area. If there’s any hope for Huntsville I think it starts in this park. It’s a powerful testament to the importance of beauty, public commons, and utility.