In Memory of Open Spaces
Family outings.
The smell of grass,
Honeysuckle blossoms
Barbecue pits in spring, summer, fall
and happy voices
Picnics in the Park.....Where did it all go?
Last night
I watched two groups argue
over something
that has caused strife and hard feelings for
over 30 years
They are no closer to compromise than they were
over quarter century ago
Meanwhile, the system that formerly educated
and nurtured the young ones
is literally crumbling before
eyes wide shut
Puffed up chests need deflation
on all sides
Too much time already wasted
on brick and mortar
built to serve less than 10% of the people
30 years later, it looms like an unkempt concrete monster
abandoned and shunned
The park around it shrinks on a daily basis
Too much fence
Too much like the barbed wire of a prison
Fence and concrete closing in
What has been done to our beautiful park?
Jay Street bridge closed off.
Third Street bridge demolished and closed off
Elmore Avenue picnic area closed
Fence locked
Elmore Avenue bridge removed
We did not forget that one
The street is now a dead end where one may only peer in through a
Cast iron fence
A grand entrance
Gated off and now used as
The City's dump area
less than 50 feet away from homes.
A dead end sign warns us that we are not allowed to enter our park through what was once the most social active area out of the way so stray balls and other flyers objects of play.
Gone are the times when one might
stand across the street in front of the church
Facing south
And see across the park
To forest Avenue in the distance.
Too much fence
Too much barbed wire
Are we keeping people in
or keeping people out?
Now we see a dilapidated stone structure with dirty,
Neglected bathrooms
The elected official tells us that a Boy's & Girls Club
Is going to fix everything now
Everything is going to be all better
because they know how to do it
A 30 year old argument prevails
Over what?
They say that this dirty dilapidated building
Is going to be our
Community Center.
Pardon me while I puke.
Family outings.
The smell of grass,
Honeysuckle blossoms
Barbecue pits in spring, summer, fall
and happy voices
Picnics in the Park.....Where did it all go?
Last night
 |
| I wonder how many people who live in Englewood have actually ever seen the inside of this very neglected facility. |
over something
that has caused strife and hard feelings for
over 30 years
They are no closer to compromise than they were
over quarter century ago
Meanwhile, the system that formerly educated
and nurtured the young ones
is literally crumbling before
eyes wide shut
Puffed up chests need deflation
on all sides
Too much time already wasted
on brick and mortar
built to serve less than 10% of the people
30 years later, it looms like an unkempt concrete monster
abandoned and shunned
The park around it shrinks on a daily basis
Too much fence
Too much like the barbed wire of a prison
Fence and concrete closing in
What has been done to our beautiful park?
Jay Street bridge closed off.
Third Street bridge demolished and closed off
 |
| Whatever happened to our picnic area? |
Fence locked
Elmore Avenue bridge removed
We did not forget that one
The street is now a dead end where one may only peer in through a
Cast iron fence
A grand entrance
Gated off and now used as
The City's dump area
less than 50 feet away from homes.
A dead end sign warns us that we are not allowed to enter our park through what was once the most social active area out of the way so stray balls and other flyers objects of play.
Gone are the times when one might
stand across the street in front of the church
Facing south
 |
| The sign is real. |
To forest Avenue in the distance.
Too much fence
Too much barbed wire
Are we keeping people in
or keeping people out?
Now we see a dilapidated stone structure with dirty,
Neglected bathrooms
The elected official tells us that a Boy's & Girls Club
Is going to fix everything now
Everything is going to be all better
because they know how to do it
A 30 year old argument prevails
Over what?
They say that this dirty dilapidated building
Is going to be our
Community Center.
Pardon me while I puke.
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