CLEVELAND, Ohio — Many of us have taken advantage of our parks, eager to be outside during the pandemic, combatting cabin fever.

On a lovely evening in Cleveland, you’ll find people walking, biking and even bird watching.

“There’s no shortage of wildlife to take a look at. It’s a really nice, relaxing place to come by and take in the sights and unwind a little bit,” said Tom Flynn.

Flynn is putting his binoculars to use, getting a shot of a blue heron while it fishes.

“I just love how this is right in the middle of Cleveland, you know, it’s just a beautiful way of celebrating the water, the natural space,” Flynn said. “Even though there’s a lot of concrete nearby, it’s kind of just a hidden gem.”

He’s one of several enjoying the Cleveland Museum of Art's Smith Family Gateway. Where people can walk and explore. The park also has a significant number of benches. So people can sit back, relax, and enjoy nature.

"It was just kind of like a place I would avoid," said Andrew Cai. "Before, it was like, well, not really maintained. There wasn’t, like, a really defined trail.”

Cai is out for a walk with a friend, delightfully surprised by the upgrade to the west side of the museum's campus.

“One hundred percent, like, major improvement. This is something they should advertise on TV if they were to like advertise this area," said Cai.

The Smith Family Gateway at the Cleveland Museum of Art is an escape for those needing one during a pandemic.

“As human beings, we need green spaces to feel at ease, to relax, unwind," said Flynn. "I think it’s really restorative. Especially with the way people have felt cooped up inside for, for a lot of the past year. So I can’t say enough good things about getting out and getting some fresh air.”

A museum’s newest work of art made with the help of Mother Nature.