I recently took my dog on a walk along the river that runs through Newton and eventually turns into the Sand Creek that lies just east of Bethel. The city of Newton has done a great job with providing sidewalks, dog pick-up bags and benches along the length of the walking path. The scenery is unexpectedly serene and beautiful, especially with the heart of Newton being just a block away.
One small thing was missing from the lovely path though — sufficient lighting! I went walking around 8:30 p.m., and there was an obvious lack of lighting on the sidewalks along the river. With the temperatures warming up, people are going to want to be walking, running or riding their bikes in the evening, and the sidewalk is far too dark to be considered safe for nighttime.
I would highly recommend taking a stroll down the path along the river. It’s a perfect study break and a change of scenery that’s only about a mile from campus. However, if you’re going at night, be sure and take a flashlight!