julie metz neabsco creek wetlands preserve & neabsco boardwalk

 i'm back in my hometown after a long time away, and returning to parks & greenspace i used to visit back in the day.  there's a small wetlands preserve not far from here that i recall for its hum of insects and bevy of birds contrasted by an aural backdrop of nearby i-95, us route 1, and heavy machinery.  today i found very little that i recognized, the preserve has changed a lot for the better although the wooden walkways through the swampy forest have fallen into disrepair all throughout the park.  with one exception.  

one walkway was well-maintained and wider than the rest, and it led to a raised platform on the edge of the water.  the platform was at the end of a boardwalk that winds around over the marshy delta of neabsco creek.  

it's 3/4 mile long!  it connects the wetlands to a nearby park and historic residence, rippon lodge.  it is planned to continue through the wetlands preserve and connect to leesylvania state park.  i bet this'll be beautiful in a few weeks.  not ideal for social distancing but ~ 

way cool!  i like the rustic and forgotten paths through the swampy woods, and i hope they don't all disappear in the wake of a fancy raised walkway (tho i welcome said fancy raised walkway don't get me wrong).