In a North Eastern Virginia Highlands Neighborhood on a cool afternoon, the intersection of two streets part Elkmont drive and Brookridge drive creating a stone bridge to allow passage over a  streaming brook. Along this brook, which flows underneath and perpendicular to the bridge is a wooded area that stretches 4000 feet in length and 700 feet in width.  Within this wooded area  and occasionally along the stream are eroded exposures of dirt that form paths that fork and contour the vast majority of the wooded area. The perimeter of the woods on all sides is where the forest floor rises anywhere from 50-75 feet above its lowest central point to become flush with the cemented roads that connect to form the bridge. The culmination of these landmarks afford a secluded and sunken in park that is hidden from street level and made generally unnoticeable to the naked eye.
The Bridge/Entrance
The bridge is roughly 100 feet long and 40 feet wide. On both sides of the awning where the bridge begins to incline upward from the road to clear the body of water underneath , black cast iron railings line the cliff above the brook parallel to the length of the crossing. The bars run vertically from the ground and are spaced 6 inches apart from each other. They are coated with a layer of paint that is beginning to chip away from weathering. Directly in front and parallel to these railings is a concrete wall on both sides that supports the bridge from underneath. This wall is grey and rough in texture. It is scattered with yellow and brown leaves that have fallen from the canopy of trees overhead.  The wall stretches the length of the bridge to reinforce the metal bars that support the bridge as well as prevent objects from falling over the sides of the awning. At the ends of the walls where the bridge reconnects to the street, they raise to form pillars roughly 11 feet in height.  Atop these pillars are small stone carvings of floral designs.  These structures are covered with a consistent film of moss. Within these walls are cobbled paths on both sides of the bridge. The cobble stones are burgundy and brown squares that vary randomly along the path. At both ends of the bridge are two thin metal red octagonal fixtures atop metal beams that read “STOP” in capital white letters.

Under The Bridge

Under the bridge is a solid cement structure that arks from the shore of both sides the stream to allow for water to flow.  This structure creates a tunnel with a flush curved ceiling 25 feet off of the ground. Standing directly below the bridge at the entrance to the tunnel the soft rush of the water can be heard as it makes contact with a collection of smooth stones at the basin of the stream.  The stream of water is constant and calm as if the source of water is steady and abundant.  The rocks and stones that are submerged in the water are smooth and grey in color and have the occasional glimmer to them from a combination of the minerals within the stone and the reflection of the sun in the water.  In the distance birds can be heard as they jump and flutter their wings between the young leaves and branches of the trees closer to the forest floor.  The ground immediately around the stream before the entrance to the tunnel is a rich dark color and is softer than the surrounding areas. As water erodes the dirt closer to the shore of the river, roots from the trees are exposed from underneath the soil. Directly along the inside walls of the tunnel are ledges that protrude one or two feet out from the wall itself to allow passage by foot.  The inside walls and the floor of the tunnel are scattered with colorful images that have been painted on.  These contain partially legible symbols and the entirety of these designs form a collection of messages inside the tunnel.  Looking up from either entrance to the tunnel, the pillars on the concrete wall lining the bridge can be seen above.

The Trail Through The Park

Turning away from the tunnel to face the majority of the park, the area is vastly natural plant life.  Trees of different ages stem from the forest floor to reach towards the light of the sun.  Smaller shrubs and bushes entangle themselves within the trunks and branches of lower hanging trees.  Vague movement can be seen within the brush as wildlife interacts within the leaves.  This movement along with a light breeze causes the leaves of trees to brush and create a whispering sound throughout the area.  A small path is afforded by erosion, both from rain fall and the traversing of wildlife and visitors.  The path exposes the bare earth consisting of dried exposed roots from bordering trees, as well as fine dry dusty dirt that is loose and a washed tan color.  This path circuits the inner park almost entirely, making its way through the lighter groupings of trees and bushes.  Every forty yards or so, a  wooden bench is placed along the outer edge of the path as well as a fork in the path allowing exit from the wooded enclosure. Each bench  is made from pieces of wood that have been painted green but are chipping away due to exposure to the elements.  The benches are faced inward towards the center of the park and a bench may be randomly painted with a message of symbols or text.

 

Orme Park Sign/Exit

After the trail around the park completes it’s semi circuit, it will exit upwards to street level.  At the floor of the exit from within the park, the ground turns from natural forest floor to a paved light stone platform.  The platform has a set of three stairs to accommodate the transition from natural dirt to paved ground.  The stones on the platform are a light color with slightly darker accents throughout.  When arriving at the top of the small flight of stairs and facing the street with the woods behind, the ground is decorated with square a stone tile with a design on it’s face.  The design is of an Oak Tree within a leaf.  Also within the leaf design and under the oak tree is the phrase “Orme Park”.  To the right of this floor design and further along the exiting paved platform is a four foot high grey stone wall with another  design on it’s street facing side.  This design is a square sign that reads in large dark letters “Orme-Park”.  Under this phrase in smaller thinner letters reads, “Virginia Highland City of Atlanta.”