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59 "NATURE IS PROVING TO BE A BALM TO PEOPLE'S SOULS IN A MOMENT OF CRISIS." –— Thomas Woltz who died. "The idea is to evoke the scale of loss through grids of loblolly pine, creating cathedral-like corridors of trees, as far as the eye can see," he says. Eastern Glades reclaims 100 acres of formerly inaccessible parkland. Phase I opened in 2018, and included realigning East Memorial Loop Road and extending the Seymour Lieberman Exer-Trail to three miles. Top of the list were 150 new parking spots, a restroom station, and picnic areas — some of the public's most-requested changes, says Woltz. The final phase of Eastern Glades will be completed in July and features the new five-acre Hines Lake, and 1.5 acres of wetlands, both essential habitats for the park's native species. There will also be boardwalks with educational signage. Not long ago, Woltz went to the park on a weekend by himself. He paused along Seymour Lieberman Exer-Trail, just as a group of middle- school kids were finishing their first half-marathon. It was a memorable moment in their lives, and their joy and enthusiasm touched him deeply. "It strikes at the heart of how I feel about my work," he says. With museums, restaurants, movie theaters, and other public places closed because of COVID-19, people are now seeking solace outdoors. "More than ever, I feel a sense of urgency to help heal the many fragile and broken places that are in need of stewardship and restoration," he says. "Nature is proving to be a balm to people's souls in a moment of crisis." Thomas Woltz Savanna and prairie at Memorial Park. Board walks and pavilions on Hines Lake.