A Shaded Walkway on the campus of Stephen F. Austin University in Historic Nacogdoches
This shaded walkway, lined with live oaks and azalea gardens between the western and eastern division of the Stephen F. Austin University campus, was originally a city street that was incorporated into the natural setting of the campus. Tall pines, indigenous to the area, and various kinds of oaks, elms, maples, hollies, magnolias and others, in addition to lower level decorative trees such as the colorful white and pink dogwoods, accented with island gardens around the walkways and plazas, are seen throughout the university campus where architecture and the green world express a balanced relationship. The campus is connected on the east to the 2½ mile long Lanana Creek Trail, a walking and biking pathway originating downtown in El Camino Park at the center of the city's most historic structures, and continuing northward along the ancient path once followed by the Caddo Indian tribes. Lanana Creek Trail is connected to 8 adjacent park, historic, and botanical site points of interest along its northward path. Beginning with Liberty Hall, a gathering and information area in El Camino Park on Main Street, there follows Father Margil Park and the associated legend of the springs; Oak Grove Cemetery and the historic Zion Hill Church; the SFA Mast Arboretum displaying more than 20 kinds of theme gardens; the Ruby Mize Azalea Garden which in size and diversity of plants is one of the largest in the state; the 23 acre Pecan Acres Park; the Tucker Woods Trail, and ending with Jimmy Hinds Park on Austin Street.