For this Spotlight session, a panel of faculty members from across the university models how a certain topic can be explored from a variety of different disciplinary perspectives. Representatives from the disciplines introduced in the course (natural sciences, social sciences, humanities, fine arts, and theology) describe how they would investigate the Cedar Creek Waterway, a proposed system of parks and trails that would connect Kirby Lake and Fort Phantom Lake (see the map below).
The completed Cedar Creek Waterway would include a seventeen mile hiking and biking trail that follows Cedar Creek and connects public parks throughout the center of Abilene. Recycled water would be pumped into the creek to provide a steady flow of water for kayaking, and certain parts of the trail would be developed with restaurants, shops, and outdoor amphitheaters that overlook the creek. To learn more about the project, visit the Cedar Creek Waterway website.
Would you support this project? Why or why not? What unintended consequences should we worry about? What positive impact might this have on the Abilene community?
http://vimeo.com/71446629
A panel of the following faculty members explores these questions (and others) in our Spotlight session.
- Natural Sciences
- Dr. Jim Cooke, Department of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences
- Social Sciences
- Prof. Rachel Slaymaker, School of Social Work
- Humanities
- Dr. Andy Little, Department of Management Sciences
- Fine Arts
- Prof. Brandon Young, Department of Art & Design
- Theology:
- Dr. David Kneip, Department of Bible, Missions, and Ministry
- Moderator: Dr. Cliff Barbarick, Department of Bible, Missions, and Ministry
Join the Conversation
If you have a question for this week’s speaker or would like to share a conclusion of your own, please post it as a comment below. We welcome off-campus voices to the public Cornerstone dialogue as long as they are respectful and contribute meaningfully to these curricular discussions. See the ACU Blogs Terms of Use or About Cornerstone for more information.
Spotlight Resources
Cedar Creek Waterway Website
One response to “Case Study: Cedar Creek Waterway”
The one question that raised for me was, what will be the reaction of the population of Abilene towards the project?, because as Dr. Jim Cooke said, the project requires a lot of money that will be taken from the taxes citizens pay. This raises a concern which is, is the population of Abilene willing to dig deeper in their almost empty pockets to support this project. Also the fact that most of the land that will be utilized in the project is owned by individuals here in Abilene, raises a question that what if some of the individuals don’t want to let go of their lands? Will the government just step in and force fully buy the land from them without their liking. I think in this case the Humanities discipline which was represented by Dr. Andy Little, and the Department of Agriculture and Environmental studies which was represented by Dr. Jim Cooke, would be perfect lenses in examining this project.