A Walk In The Park, Lucas Park Day Two
Last Saturday a team of volunteers descended on downtown’s Lucas Park and began cleaning up years of accumulated leaves, grass grown over the sidewalk and playground gravel no longer in the playgrounds. Neighbors have noticed the change. The Post-Dispatch took notice. The homeless also noticed.
Thursday I had lunch with the homeless man I met on Saturday. We had a great conversation. His job interview went well with a follow-up phone interview since.
Since last Saturday more and more downtown residents have used the park. I’ve been there a few times talking to friends as they are walking their dogs. Nobody is running the homeless out, we just want to feel like we can use the park too.
So this Saturday morning starting at 8am we will continue the park cleanup & beautification work started last week. We will finish the edging of the sidewalks, rake twigs and stuff from under the trees and paint the wood slats on the benches. At some point some of the wood slats will need replacement. All are welcome to join us.
At this point we are thinking we’ll have something each Saturday. Eventually that may turn to the creation of flower beds. Working with others we’ll need to get greater input to create a community-based plan for the park. For now we are sticking with taking care of deferred maintenance items.
Our small group met on Thursday evening to make plans for Saturday. After we met we all walked over to Lucas Park. Yes, all of us walked there. I had walked down from my place 2+ blocks away — took me more than a half hour. One homeless woman was upset by us being in the park, “You’ve got to be homeless to be here,” she said. We are invading their territory. Sorry but it is a public park, we all have the same right to be there.
Recognizing the growing number of kids downtown we thought a Halloween party would be a good idea. We are still working on the details but save the date of Saturday October 25th from 4pm-8pm. Face painting
is one of the items being planned. Stay tuned for more specifics as we get closer to that date.
This Saturday morning come join in the fun of helping clean a great little urban pocket park.
Prior posts:
- Sept. 14, 2008; A Great Morning at Lucas Park.
- Sept 10, 2008; Help Tidy Up Lucas Park Saturday Morning
Great that you’re doing this. But why isn’t the City?
We are the City!
“You’ve got to be homeless to be here,â€
I think that was out of surprise, not exclusion, as in ‘what the heck are you doing here’. sadly the homeless scare many. some with reason, some with none.
the people of Lucas may just take a little more care with the attention. and if not, at least be more receptive to neighbors using the space.
anyway, anywhere I’ve lived I’ve watched the regulars in my neighborhood and knew who’s down on luck, who’s got problems and who’s just deranged. I talk to them (rarely giving money, just regarding them as fellow humans – weird, huh?) and the ratio is in favor of simply down on luck.
but I would take a can or bag along for any bio-hazard in case.
Look at vibrant neighborhoods. In those places, neighbors take pride of ownership in their public spaces, like parks, and upgrade them with their own money and sweat equity.
“At this point we are thinking we’ll have something each Saturday.” While it may seem like a good idea at this point, it can also be a recipe for burnout – better to maintain sustained interest and commitment, especially once the major maintenance items have been accomplished . . . kudos on getting the ball rolling and good luck! And both Adam and Margie are right, but with limited resources on the city side (a whole separate conversation about priorities) and motivated neighbors, the DIY approach is a win-win for everyone involved. The only caveat I’d offer is to not work too independently of the parks department – I wouldn’t be surprised that if you asked they might actually give/buy you the right paint in the right color and quality – remember this is still public property and certain standards do/should apply . . .
JZ-
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You may not be aware, but in your neighborhood, neighbors, have been beautifying Tilles Park for years. The day to day TLC improvements are carried out by volunteers. They are not burned out. It is their passion. They are passionate about their neighborhood, and the park is a jewel of the community.
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This is not a suburban realm. It is a city. Resources are tight. Little things matter. Neighbors matter. The city empties the trash cans. The neighbors make sure the trash is IN THE CAN.
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The city provides free mulch and dumpsters, the neighbors work the gardens, finance new playground equipment, and walk the park daily (picking up aftere their pets, of course).
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Downtown was dead as a residential neighborhood for decades. It is just now getting it’s legs underneath it again. People with resources, both time and money, are making downtown a prosperous city neighborhood of choice.
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They have the power to make it even better in the years to come, and by so doing, draw even more people into their community.
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We shouldn’t be talking about “burn out”. We should be celebrating the return of community and encouraging more neighborhoods on board!
NN – I pretty much agree with everything you say, except for two things – my neighborhood park is Lindenwood, not Tilles (and it has its own core group of volunteers who do a great job), and my “burn out” concern wan’t meant to be a negative or a downer, it was meant as a simple reality check. I’ve been involved with community-based initiatives for 30 years, and I’ve seen more than a few start off with a great deal of enthusiasm, only to see them burn out the people involved. My experience is that it’s just as critical to manage expectations as is it is to forge ahead at full speed. If doing a little bit every weekend works, great, do it. If more people can devote a half day or a full day once a month, it’s another option. There is no “right” answer, but there’s a fine and fuzzy line between getting people motivated and involved and pushing too hard and having fewer and fewer show up. Bottom line, this effort seems to be gaining momentum, and I wish Steve and his neighbors only the best!
If you folks would like to see what the park looked like ca. 1920, take a gander at Landmarks’ , p28. Note, as well, the streetcar line in the foreground.
I walked by Lucas Park last week en route to work, it looked much tidier, congrats! We do community gardening in ONSL too, and have found you can get the forestry dept to bring mulch and soil to particular locations. Beats hauling it from the usual distribution point at the back of our main park. So if you have an area in the park you need to mulch, if it is accessible by large truck, call them and ask. Re: paint, I realize you probably have it covered for this weekend, but ReStore on Forest Park is a great place for cheap paint if you are open on the question of color. Super source for primer coat!
Oh, brother. “…Landmarks’ ‘Historic Churches and Synagogues’…”