While coming up with an idea for my next project, I came up with the idea to write about the open spaces in Port Richmond. I’ve seen a few parks in the area, and a few nice green spaces, so I thought it would be interesting to see the number of these clean spaces, and how they came to be.
While driving around, I was amazed by the amount of vacant lots that surround many areas of Port Richmond. Overgrown grass, trash everywhere and the amount of bugs I saw while getting out of the car to take pictures was not a pretty sight.
Every time I thought I was going to come across a clean space of land I was disappointed to see overgrown bushes and Coke bottles. While I took a picture of one lot that had garbage all around it, a kid walked by and added a Snickers wrapper. I’m not sure if he did that because I was standing there taking a picture of it, or because maybe this was his normal routine.
But don’t get me wrong, I did see some nice clean green spaces in the area, but I was just amazed at so many more vacant lots that needed help. When I spoke to one man walking by one of the lots he said it had been vacant for as long as he can remember. When I asked why he thought it was still vacant and not cleaned up, he simply said that people were too busy working and raising their families to be worried about land that wasn’t theirs.
For a brief moment I understood where he was coming from. Bad economy meant some people could be working two jobs, and trying to juggle raising their kids. But in another way, I disagreed. Helping to create a clean space would be so beneficial to the community, and it would give the kids a clean place to play if they lived too far from an area park.
It’s hard being an outside looking in to this community because I don’t live there.
But I’d hope that at some point the residents can get together and begin the process of cleaning out the trash, and cutting the high grass in the vacant lots to try to make clean green spots to enjoy, and perhaps even make a community garden that everyone could benefit from.
By Aimee Otis and Brandie Page
Group 7- Port Richmond
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