Imagine a sunny afternoon behind the Kingston Community Library...

Butterflies alight and birds chirp in the pollinator garden that weaves its way through the Outdoor Community Center. Tucked among the greenery, children are jumping and crawling over rocks on the nature-based playground, while others run up the wood bridge to the giant tree house. Around the corner, parents sit on benches and chat while supervising their children. There are children reading in the shade and others quietly sailing boats in the area’s water feature.

Beside the ADA-accessible path, people are gathered under the pavilion for a book club discussion. There is a sign that refers to upcoming concerts and Zumba classes that will take place in the space. Further along the path, a businessman sits at a table using the outdoor wifi while on a business call. There is activity in the older adult wellness area, where people are trying new exercises. Some people are inwardly focused on their repetitions, while others are laughing and socializing as much as they are working out.

The sensory walk has attracted others. There is a mother naming plants for a baby in the stroller and a toddler alongside. Soft grasses sway in the breeze and a couple wanders hand-in-hand, barefoot, feeling the different textures of grasses and stones on their toes. This walk leads to a wooded trail, graded to accommodate those in wheelchairs. A teen pushes a boy in an accessible swing. Further into the woods, there is the sound of chimes, as children play on a small stage with outdoor musical instruments.

Suddenly, it is still. A “secret” path terminates in a cutout-mossy area dotted with rocks. The wanderer perches for a moment in the meditation garden for a peaceful escape and to soak in the experience of community in this delightful setting.