My Town Monday: Mill Pond Walkway

The Mill Pond in Brighton MI, is part of Ore Creek. On one side is the Imagination Station, a massive play structure. The Tridge crosses the Mill Pond and there's a reason it's call the Tridge and not just a mere bridge. It's a three armed stucture. Two arms merely link the two sides of the Mill Pond. The third heads off to the Mill Pond Walkway.

The walkway heads along the banks of Ore Creek. At the start of the journey, though, there's a side detour. If you look closely in the picture below, you can see a little white building in the background.

That's the Dairy Queen. Luckily the City of Brighton was wise enough to put in an actual paved path the DQ rather than have people just trample over, through, and around whatever might have been in the way. You can't stop people from going to Dairy Queen.

Before the Mill Pond walkway, some teens would actually hop the cemetery fence (bad) just to get their treats.

The Walkway makes it's way down Ore Creek, running behind businessess about a quarter mile.



There are little seat jutting into Ore Creek. Where one might stop, eat their ice cream and watch the wildlife.

Like the albino ducks... that are repopulating quite well at the Mill Pond.




There's also some mighty large fish. I dont know how well this picture will come out, so try clicking for a larger view. It's a massive fish! People do fish off the walkway. It's usually rather quiet.

For better or worse, most of the kids and noise are back at the Imagination Station. Though, I think it's a shame if they never made their way down the Mill Pond Walkway.

Ore Creek sneaks under Grand River Avenue.


And it's at Grand River that the Walkway ends. There is a sidewalk through town, of course, but it's stuck a stark contrast to the quiet of the Walkway. All along, it doesn't feel like you're walking through the main part of Brighton. There's the backsides of business, but it's quiet. You hear birds. Watch the languid flow of Ore Creek. Trees cast dappled shadows on the ground. And there's the smell of a river.

It's almost jarring to come around the last corner on the Walkway to the sound of trucks and cars.

To my surprise, I actually managed to take a picture between the traffic on Grand River. Grand River is one of those main roads that is never wholly empty. Five lanes of impatient traffic.

On the other side of Grand River is the Marsh and Swamps that are part of the rest of Ore Creek. A waterway that is seeing at least a little care and protection.

It's too noisy. I'm going back to where it's quiet.

Travis Erwin is slacking on his own My Town Monday post today, but he's corraling the links for the rest of his entourage. Visit his page for links. And while you're there, read a few of his posts. Aside from being the creator of My Town Monday, he's a funny man and a good storyteller