December 3, 2015
By Saeed Qureshi
Those motorists who take a detour
from I-20 to 408 spur must bear me out that a wondrous spectacle of captivating
natural scenery opens up before the eyes. The green and salubrious hillock
around which the exit spur road circulates is a treat to the eyes of the
beholders.
The thick forest starts at the end
of the detour link road branching off from I-20 and extends on to the both
sides of the 408 spur as if it is a part of the Switzerland hilly slopes.
Mythically one may say that this forest could have been the abode of the
proverbial gods that used to reside in inaccessible valleys and mountains. On
the higher altitude both sides of the spur are laden with thick forest studded
with tall pine trees.
As an ardent lover of nature I am
immensely fascinated and rather captivated by the serene beauty of this unique
valley. This spur that winds through a breathtaking beautiful valley is not
very long. Yet it offers a natural phenomenon on both sides that enlivens the
soul and uplifts the subdued spirits.
The slopes on the mountains are
studded with trees that are very old and must be treated as relics and
preserved. The trees in wild jungles decay on their own and are reborn and the
same process is taking place here. But this reminds one how in the past this
short strip would have been replete with eye-catching and wondrous facets of
the virgin nature. This forest adds to the grandeur of this natural
resort.
While ascending you may look towards
the right side and you will see a valley as charming as it is mysterious. Surrounded
by the thick cluster of tall trees there is a lake down below with sparkling
water like a glittering jewel. This is a different lake from the spacious lake
that covers large on area on the eastern periphery of the city of Grand Prairie
and over which more than a mile long bridge links the Baptist University with
the city of Grand Prairie and joins with the 408 spur. This road in Pioneer Parkway
and is also called 303 spur.
The landscape down below around the
lake and surroundings is simply panoramic. Near the lake there is a small naval
complex that might have been operational in the past or may be is still
functional for maritime purposes. And there is a huge and imposing complex of
the Dallas Baptist University that too adds to the majesty of the valley. The
Pioneer Parkway runs through the naval complex and the university compound. Also
situated nearby is the National Cemetery.
After dusk when you are descending
to join the I-20 Highway, you would witness yet another mesmeric panorama. A
sea of lights interspersed on a vast land of Arlington and Grand Prairie
dazzles the eyes of the motorists.One would wonder if these sprawling
cities could be the most lighted and glittering in the entire state of Texas or
even the whole of the United States.
This spectacle keeps commuters so engaged
that for a while one tends to forget that he or she was driving on a winding
road ascending and descending both the ways. One may come across one or two odd
forlorn coyotes in search of food. There might be other animals in
the forest and the wildlife department should preserve these animals from being
killed by the speeding vehicles or die of hunger.
Alas the serene and virgin beauty
of this wonderful two or three long stretch of the spur better be called a
valley, has fallen victim to the prying eyes of the real estate builders.
During the past few years the chaste beauty of this valley has been sullied and
woefully tarnished by construction of two eyesore complexes. One is an
apartment complex and the other is a church building both built by denuding a
part of the thick forest. These look ugly spots on the fair landscape of this
charming valley. But I would wish these buildings were not there.
There is a lurid possibility that
in due course, more commercial buildings might emerge on both sides of the 408
Spur and thus this three miles segment of a natural resort would lose its
serenity and beauty. The commercial lust and greed is swallowing this
delightful eye treat for the travelers.
City fathers must do something
urgent to save this valley as a natural heritage and further construction
should be banned along the spur in order to retain its natural and pristine
beauty.
The portion of the spur that turns
into loop 12 is now dotted with commercial buildings, gas station and apartment
complex. In the past this tract too must have had a forest on both sides of the
Loop 12 and as green and unspoiled as a part of the 408 spur now is.
There are
still one or two ranches or farm houses on the 408 spur where farming is being
done even now by some left out residents.
This gives one a feeling that this place should have been a farmers’
village in the near or in the distant past.
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