My previous visit to this site had been enriched by an encounter with the founder of the Friends of the Mississippi River Basin Model, a dedicated group working tirelessly to preserve and renew this historical and educational treasure, along with the surrounding Buddy Butts Park.

As I arrived and began to traverse the expansive scale model, a sense of familiarity mixed with a tinge of disappointment greeted me. Despite the noble efforts of the non-profit organization, it appeared that little had changed since my last visit. The model, a once-grand representation of the Mississippi River Basin, still bore the marks of time and neglect.

Venturing deeper into the wooded area where the model extends, I was struck by the sense of remoteness that enveloped this part of the park. Surrounded by nature, the model lay there, a silent witness to the passage of time and the changing priorities of the world outside its leafy confines.

Walking through this area, a mixture of hope and realism settled over me. While I held onto a dream of seeing the model restored to its former glory and operational once more, the reality seemed to lean towards a different outcome. The potential of this site as an educational and historical resource was immense, yet the challenges of restoration and maintenance in the face of limited resources and shifting public interests were palpable.

As I left the site, my thoughts lingered on the Mississippi River Basin Model. It stood as a metaphor for the broader narrative of preservation and progress - the delicate balance between remembering our past and moving forward into the future. This visit, though somewhat melancholic, reaffirmed my appreciation for such endeavors and the importance of efforts to keep history alive for future generations.