19 eight years later!). In the case of the Hoosic River, we needed to find a way to connect people with an entire 2.5-mile stretch of the river, which crossed through many different natural and urbanistic conditions. We designed a monthly format of Riverwalks in partnership with the local advocacy group Hoosic River Revival, guided by a local parks manager, that broke the full length into five sections. Each Riverwalk was held the last weekend of the month, included a free sketchbook and drawing tools, and culminated with a delicious table of local food provided by rotating North Adams restaurants. Each month’s Riverwalk picked up where the previous one had left off, creating an intuitive format that allowed community members to map the river and its relationship to the city into their minds. 4. Invite New Physical Encounters Physical experiences are important in connecting communities to their natural environments. The Hoosic Riverwalks included hikes through the woods, easy strolls on sidewalks, explorations of dams and bridges, and one session focused on trash cleanup along an overgrown path ringing an oxbow. Surveys at the end of these walks repeatedly showed extra enthusiasm for the more physically challenging components — bushwhacking! pulling tires out of the undergrowth! — alongside an appreciation for universally accessible alternatives. At the Westside Riverway Park, local environmental groups including the Berkshire Environmental Action Team and the Housatonic Valley Association Small City Natural Environment • Feature • ARCADE
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