Girls from the Boys and Girls Club take in the flowers and the view from the 10th Street Escarpment, once the neighborhood's most popular illegal dumping site.
Posted by: Noel Jones
I took a little stroll this morning with Sophia Feller of the West Ward Neighborhood Partnership, who led girls from the Boys and Girls Club on a tour of a couple of new community garden's that have sprung up in the West Ward this year. You may remember that earlier this year, the city won a $10,000 grant that was used for cleaning up the escarpment that leads down the bluff from the end of S. 10th Street to "the flats" by the river below. Technically, "the flats" are a part of the West Ward, though separated from the rest of the
neighborhood by some steep geography. The hope of some community members is to eventually develop a switchback walking trail that allows neighbors to enjoy the view and walk between the flats and 10th Street.
I had visited the site before the clean-up, and it was disheartening--a beautiful view leading down to the river (who knew you could see the river from the West Ward?) covered in torn garbage bags, old tires, machinery, furniture, you name it, it had been dumped there. The city used the grant to pay for the clean-up, and to erect a tall fence and a guard rail to discourage dumpers, who were accustomed to simply backing their trucks up to the bluff and pushing all their trash down the side of the hill to the river (and the residents below).
Enter WEED and SEED, led by Laura Accetta, who coordinated the painting of the guard rail a bright and cheery yellow, and the building of garden beds and flower boxes with the help of A Hammer and a Dream, who worked with youth from Children's Home of Easton. The flower boxes were painted purple and planted with the help of West Ward kids, and a sunflower garden was planted along the chain link fence as well (with a white picket fence in front). When I asked the girls what they thought, Lavonte, who is 12, said, "It's great!" Kayla, 11, said "I like the flowers!" And 8 year old Candice, said she liked, "all the colors!"
If you have a chance, stop by and take a look at the difference that can be made when a community pulls together to make positive change. Other neighbors near the escarpment have gotten involved, and are planting flowers and offering their gutter spouts to feed the rain barrels that water the garden. It's turning into a very cheerful little corner of the neighborhood.
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8 comments:
I've heard Sophia is having a hard time to get people to take ownership of the trees in front of their homes, just to water them!
I was at the 10th st gate today, it looks nice, but it'll take a lot of work to get the nearby residents (those living in the projects) to keep it nice; if so many already can't take care of the area right in front of their OWN DOORS, how will you get them to take responsibility for a community effort?
I'm not slamming all project residents, just the ones who don't take care of their properties. so many are used to 'someone else' doing it.
Noel, on your next stroll over there, count how many drug dealers are waiting on the conrners waiting to make a deal, it's a crummy section of the city.
Well, maybe I just got lucky, but when I was there in the late morning, the only people out were the contractor, who was building a high platform to use gravity for the rain barrel watering system, Laura Accetta from Weed & Seed, Sophia, the girls, and another WW neighbor who had come along for the walk. There was no litter in the street and the garden seemed well cared for. One property owner next to the garden has offered his gutters for the rain barrel and has allowed the kids to plant flowers around his property as well. So, so far, so good.
that hill would be great for a vineyard. or rice.
I've heard talk about planting a vineyard before--rice is suggestion I have not heard, but an interesting idea--do we have the climate for rice? We would need to test the soil and probably do some remediation to make sure that there are no toxic chemicals in the soil from dumping...
Whatever we do, I would like to see some trees planted along the hillside, to provide a little shade for people walking a switchback trail up and down. That would be a great way to exercise--going down to the river and back, although I'd rather start in the flats and do the climb up front and come down at the end!
It would also be nice if we made some benches and tables, so that people could rest along the way, take in the view, have a little picnic if they wanted too...
wow that looks great. whos the contractor can we get him or her in my neighborhood.
hay miss jones isnt that the guy you keep on bashing on this site.
yes, Dan, you're the contractor who built the garden boxes. they look lovely.
Oh im sorry noel was not looking for a compliment. like i always do just pointing out facts and telling the truth.
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