August 13, 2013 - The Grand Canyon of Putnam County

The new normal for me is to wake up, get my son ready for school, load him and the dogs in the car, drop him off at school, take the dogs on a run somewhere, and then start working.  Sometimes I go home and work, other times I stay in town and work.  At some point I do take a shower.
Lately I have been mixing up where I go on a run. I go to either the sports park, the country road or the Depauw Nature Park.  My favorite place to run is the Nature Park, because I do not feel like I am anywhere near a cornfield, city, or other development when I am there.  The irony in this is that the Nature Park is man-made.  It is an old stone quarry that has trails, a nature center, and some really great spaces for thinking or picnics or whatever you want.
The park is adjacent to Big Walnut Creek, and actually has a boat launch.  There are a number of crushed stone trails that allow you to choose your own adventure on a run or walk.  It is jogging stroller friendly and dog friendly.  There is a two mile loop trial that follows the rim of the canyon (hole in the ground) and has amazing views.  You can also run through the bottom of the canyon and check out the desolate landscape that is there, which is also the location of the large body of shallow water that hosts cranes and provides water and shelter for other animals.
When I first visited the Nature Park about 5 years ago, I knew that it would become my favorite place

in Putnam County.  I usually visited it whenever I came home to see family.  My husband and I actually got married there in October of 2010, and we had family pictures taken there last fall as well.
I have heard some people say that Depauw has too much influence on how Greencastle and Putnam County operate.  I say that Depauw provides so much to the residents of this county that we should be thankful that they continue to invest in this community and provide all of the free things that they do for the residents.  I wonder what Greencastle would be without Depauw?  My husband's answer: "Brazil, IN."  He is probably about right.