For visitors and locals in Tuscaloosa, parks offer more than just a place to pass through. From walking trails and open fields to waterfront views, the city’s parks provide spaces where people can gather, exercise, reflect and simply take a break from their daily routines.
Damerian Hollis, a junior electrical engineering major, said the Park at Manderson Landing became a place of solace away from the demands of his major. He said working out in nature has not only helped his mental health but encouraged him to spend more time outside.
“I feel like being outside more helped me find myself, understand my body and pushed my boundaries to make new memories,” Hollis said.
As a frequent park goer, Hollis said he introduced his friends to the Park at Manderson Landing. Now, they all meet up regularly for basketball games.
“It’s a great way to spend time outside of campus,” Hollis said. “You get to know people and understand them more.”
While parks can serve as recreational spaces, they can also become places where people create connections and memories within the city. For Kolbe Kimbrough, a sophomore accounting major, escaping his academic duties and retreating to nature was a decision he later was grateful for.
“I feel like the park is a great place to just take a second and reflect,” Kimbrough said. “It is so easy to get caught up in campus, you don’t realize there are other places.”
Kimbrough said he frequents the Tuscaloosa Riverwalk throughout the week, jogging with his friends, listening to music outside and watching the sunset. He said these are some of his most cherished college memories.
“When I went out there with my friends, I felt like we found a new sense of peace we had never had before. I’d recommend for anyone to get outside,” Kimbrough said.
The social aspect of parks can be just as important as the physical space itself. Across Tuscaloosa, these spaces give residents an opportunity to gather without the structure of expectations that come with work, school or other daily responsibilities. It is a time to sit back and enjoy what is in front of you.
Samantha Lynn Thomas, a sophomore political science and African American studies major, said spending her free time going on hikes and walks around Tuscaloosa has been a highlight of her college experience.
“I remember watching the sun rise over the riverwalk one morning, just being so at peace,” Thomas said. “It really just gives you a chance to take it all in.”
Thomas said he has been inviting her friends along for her nature adventures. Now, they all have a desire to spend their weekends outside, soaking in the sun and taking a break from their daily routines. She said she encourages students to experience these parks for what they are — beautiful spaces to unwind.
“I think that parks and recreation spaces play a huge role in how students socialize outside of campus,” Thomas said. “I feel like everyone should take advantage of all the park spaces in town.”
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