Eclipse at Riverwalk: 'A chance to gather, learn and explore the cosmos'

Roughly around 2 p.m., temperatures dropped briefly and the atmosphere appeared like dusk instead of the middle of the afternoon at the watch party at Riverwalk Park hosted by the city Parks and Rec Department.

Although, being an overcast day made the likelihood of visibility questionable, but conditions seemed to clear once the eclipse came into view.

"We showed up and were hoping the clouds would go away," Glenna Hornaday of Columbia said. "It all seemed to clear up just in time, so we could see it. It was amazing."

While the viewing crowd Monday was fairly scarce at the park, many families and residents came out to sit on the grass, socialize and witness an eclipse, the last having occurred across Tennessee in 2017.

The Parks and Recreation Department offered proper eclipse-ready eyewear on a first-come, first-serve basis, though quickly ran out.

"It's funny how they often say this is once in a lifetime, and here I am having it happen twice in my lifetime," Parks & Rec Program Director Christina Walls said. "I love solar stuff, and with this happening I figured it would be a good community event. Though I didn't realize the glasses would go as fast as they did, almost instantly."

Parks and Rec Assistant Director Alex Troge said the department wanted to participate in a way that allows anyone wishing to see the eclipse to have the ability.

"The biggest thing was creating this opportunity we'd be able to provide, one of many programming events we are always trying to find, one where we can be at a location and break barriers of entry," Troge said.

Troge added that events like an eclipse are also a good opportunity for community gathering, as well as education, two areas parks and rec often includes in its programs.

"The nature of it and the information behind it is absolutely worthwhile, even if it's just a random day talking about astrology," Troge said. "That stuff is interesting regardless of the context, but when you get to experience it, the cosmological factors and anthropological factors throughout history, I just find that very interesting."

The next total solar eclipse visible in the U.S. is expected to occur in 2044.

Jay Powell is a general reporter for The Daily Herald. Get up-to-date news in your inbox by subscribing to The Daily Herald newsletter at www.ColumbiaDailyHerald.com.

This article originally appeared on The Daily Herald: Eclipse at Riverwalk: 'A chance to gather, learn and explore the cosmos'