By Reese Bunch, Writer, Photos by Clarice Kear, Photographer
With the pressure of class, tests, papers, and studying, it can be easy to see Pellissippi State Community College simply as the place you go to class; however, despite the fluorescent lights and windowless classrooms, there is a lot of natural beauty. While most of the duck pond may often be taken over by geese, it offers a stunning place to walk as well as some premium spots to study or relax. It may seem silly to spend valuable time simply walking or sitting, but these small exercises are an indisputable part of keeping yourself sane and healthy. So, next time you have a little extra time on campus, consider giving some of these spots a try.
The Pellissippi State duck pond offers four different walking trails, ranging from .25 miles to .75 miles. These trails can be a wonderful spot to burn some extra calories and enjoy the fall weather that is fast approaching, as well as spend some extra time in between classes or decompress after a test. Additionally, it’s a great spot to come back to campus after a long day to enjoy a sunset.
Along with the walking trails, the duck pond also offers several spaces to simply sit back and relax. Here you can see three picnic tables nestled beneath two trees. While the geese may still reign supreme here, don’t be afraid to take one of the tables for your own; they’re are a great spot to do homework, study for an exam, or simply sit back and enjoy some nature. While the school Wi-Fi may not be great everywhere on campus, it reaches almost every point of the duck pond, and this spot in particular has a good enough signal to submit any assignments you may finish there.
During today’s busy, hectic, and downright chaotic life, we all need a place to clear our heads and have a little downtime. The duck pond can be a great free and close spot to do so. Here you can see just a few snapshots of some of the views our duck pond offers. Despite it being such a helpful spot, it seems to be an underutilized, under-loved part of Hardin Valley’s campus. Any student, faculty, or visitor who comes onto our campus can’t miss the swath of land that makes up our duck pond and walking trail, and it deserves more love than it currently gets.
An unfortunate consequence of the duck pond being underutilized is that it is not all pristine. Parts of the walking trail are covered in mud, leaves, or even goose poop. While the vast majority of the walking trail is walkable, there are unfortunately some parts that have been forgotten. Specifically, the part of the trail by Open Parking Lot 01 is completely covered in goose excrement. With that said, it can easily be bypassed by walking in the surprisingly goose-poop-free grass right next to the trail. Besides the goose poop, the trail is very walkable, flat, and a beautiful way to spend a few extra minutes you may have during your day.
Overall, the duck pond offers a peaceful and calm slice of nature on Hardin Valley’s campus. It can be hard to catch a glimpse of the sun in some of our buildings, and that is a shame. The walking trail and duck pond offer some great spots to stop, enjoy nature, get some studying done, or just reflect on the hectic semester we’re all having. I strongly recommend everyone go out and use the walking trail or find a favorite cozy spot to sit down and enjoy the sunshine while the weather is still beautiful.
