Spinoza would reject the idea that people “contain a fragment of God” because it implies God is divisible, which contradicts his view of God as an infinite, indivisible substance (Deus sive Natura—“God or Nature”). Instead, he would argue that all things, including people, are modes or expressions of God’s essence in finite ways. Rather than containing a piece of God, we exist within God as manifestations of divine substance, each expressing its nature according to necessity.
The new fiberglass grated boardwalk involved several innovative features. Pin piles were used to support the boardwalk to minimize impacts to the wetland. The wetland area and site near the river has highly compressible soils up to 20 feet deep that could lead to settling of civil structures. To combat this structural concern, the team designed pin piles to provide the necessary stabilization while minimizing wetland impacts. It was imperative that the new boardwalk and paths were wide enough for people carrying rowing shells from the park’s south parking lot to the floating dock. The engineering team modeled the path a rowing shell would travel to ensure the route would be accessible for portaging hand-powered watercrafts.