Pealer Street Bridge

Pealer Street Bridge

The Rocky River flows under this bridge in Three Rivers, Michigan, joining the Portage and St. Joseph Rivers in the triad for which the city is named. The three converge in Scidmore Park, near where this photo was taken. Recently, a local group of volunteers has devoted much time and energy to reinvigorate the downtown riverfront parks. The group’s enthusiasm for creating an active harmony between residents and the green spaces in Three Rivers is an encouraging example of living life well within a place. In this public park, concrete supports stand together with robust tree trunks; some grasses succumb to the lawnmower, whereas others evade it; and murals and ever-evolving graffiti tell the stories of a community, just as the river flowing past carries stories that it has gathered along its course.