Aviary

All of the Food Trucks in the area came to Miller Park today and my husband and I met for lunch.  Yum!  Taco Shark was the best.

While I waited for him to arrive, I took pictures of the Aviary.  Built in 1902, it housed part of the Zoo.  (from Wikipedia It is a Queen Anne-style structure erected in 1902. The multi-sided exhibition house was designed by the local architectural firm of Frye and Chesterman. The building was a gift to the city of Lynchburg from Randolph Guggenheimer of New York City. When completed, the Aviary housed, "Seven cages containing monkeys, one with at least a half dozen healthy alligators, one with cockatoos, one with Australian doves, one with parrots and one with canaries." )

Lynchburg was a very grand city at the turn of the century, but it was not so grand when we moved here more than 20 years ago.  In recent years, however, there has been a huge effort to revitalize the Downtown area, and more recently, Midtown.  

The Aviary has always been a jewel, but was somewhat neglected since Miller Park is in one of the poorer sections of town.  With the Midtown revitalization, however, it got a fresh coat of paint and is looking very nice.

It is an absolutely gorgeous building inside - all wood and windows.  It can be rented for events, and I have attended parties there.  But, I am very sad to say, there are those people who would never consider having a party in the Aviary because it isn't in the nicest part of town.

I suppose this is my soap-box today - see what government investment can accomplish?  The Food trucks are all commercial entities, but it was the Park's department Marketing director that facilitated their collecting in one place. With so many choices, customers came in crowds.  And bringing them to a city park in Midtown - the "not as nice area" - encourages people to explore a different part of the city.   We all need to feel comfortable in every part of our city. 

Investment in city parks can bring people together. And as we mix, hopefully we will become more used to the idea that our differences are not fearsome entities that divides us but are qualities that add richness and flavor to life.