New Boston, TX- Parks & Walking Trails

New Boston Rail Trail at Scout Lake

Lace up your sneakers and enjoy the City of New Boston Parks, these parks a gift from the City of New Boston offer many opportunities to be outdoors. Tapp Park’s walking trails wind around the park through shaded paths of oak and pine trees and the asphalt trails of Trail Head Park take you from downtown New Boston to Hwy 98 through more than three miles of walkway surrounded by nature. This newest trail runs along the old Texas & Pacific Railway rails and the paved asphalt way ends at HWY 98.

One of my favorite things to do is walking and my favorite walking companion is my husband. We keep about the same pace so walking together is easy. Any season, our favorite place to walk is New Boston’s Trail Head Park. This past weekend in mid-April was no exception. The spring time weather made it the perfect morning walk. The City of New Boston completed this asphalt trail in 2016. The trail to HWY 98 from downtown New Boston- passing Scout Lake and return to town is about six miles, the walk is just over three miles to Scout Lake and back to town.
No matter your route, this is a beautiful nature walk. Lacey blooms of white, yellow and purple line the walk along Front Street from Trail Head Park to near Frost Street. On the trail, you’ll meet families riding their bicycles, parents pushing their children in strollers and dog walkers out to give their dogs some exercise.

Near Frost Street the trail changes, frilly blooms in shades of yellow line the walk as the trail is enveloped in a canopy of green and the heady sweet scents of privet hedge and honeysuckle fill the air.

The trail is lined with many pines and hardwood trees on each side and west of Robertson there is a lush thicket of bamboo.

Along the way are wildflowers scattered about, royal thistles with blooms faded and exhausted but still standing proud. Purple Spiderworts with their showy blossoms. Depleted cattails awaiting their renewal for a fall performance. Shoots of yellow petals reaching up.  Then, arriving at the creek, a short walk over the bridge is Scout Lake. You will likely see ducks or fishermen enjoying the lake.

When you return checkout the dandelions with their bright yellow blossoms and some with their seed head blooms, pick one – make a wish. This all-purpose trail is great for walking, jogging, bike riding or just to be out for a leisurely stroll and as you return to downtown New Boston notice the walkway lined with crepe myrtles with their promise of a spectacular display of summer blooms.

 

Copyright © 2017- Molly Cox
Member International  Travel Writers & Photographers Alliance

Previously Published: “When You Know You’d Rather Be Outdoors.” Bowie County Citizens Tribune & DeKalb News 3 May 2017, F5