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Standing Together in the Park by Nathalie Gibeau Vice Pres. Neighborhood Watch, South Central Troy In a time of diminished resources and understaffing, our City has plenty of committed, hard-working residents ready to rise in defense of the place we call home. As with everything, when all 57,000 of us commit to keeping our front stoops and alley areas clean, we do a great service to ourselves and our community. When we organize to salvage neglected public spaces, we send a message of care for our surroundings. And when we expend our time, energy, and resources in these efforts, we naturally want to protect our accomplishments. After all, who wants to see all their hard work undone? This protectiveness, in turn, deters all sorts of undesirable and illegal activities. Those who protect and care for their public spaces can also enjoy the benefits of economic growth, cultural diversity, and social harmony. If you doubt this, visit the U.S. cities that are growing and thriving. Travel abroad to Canadian and European cities. Their cleanliness speaks volumes about self-worth and community. And, very importantly, they attract visitors and new residents who boost their economy. What you'll find in these places are citizens vigilant about keeping the place clean. Ask anyone who has ever traveled to Colorado and witnessed the very public ridicule of a litterbug . He'll never make that mistake again. At least not there. He'll wait until he's back home where no one seems to care. Wherever home is for this man, my guess is no one pays to vacation there. Rest assured, for every bit of litter we ignore and every public space we neglect, we are throwing money away. South Troy has lost enough, so recently, a group of motivated residents, organized by Janette Kaddo-Marino, volunteered to clean out our abandoned toddler park on Canal Avenue. Almost all of us participating either had children of our own or used the park when we were young. Others, without ties to the park, helped out simply because it was the right thing to do. Our efforts didn't go unnoticed by the local kids either. They couldn't wait to add their muscle. Enthusiasm was high and donated food was plentiful. Conversation quickly focused on the park's heyday, as we unearthed wading pools and fountain bases (our own archeological dig). Over and over again we asked ourselves, "How could anyone abandon such a fun place?" In cities all over the world people would give their eye-teeth for green space. In 1858 New York City officials and Landscape designers Frederick Law Olmstead and Calvert Vaux understood the psychological and material importance of the park they created. Some of the world's most expensive real estate surrounds Central Park today. But beyond the distinct market value of having property adjoining a park, there are the benefits of neighbors congregating in a safe space where children can play. With all these benefits in mind, a number of the volunteers determined at that time to develop a strategy to rehabilitate the Canal Avenue Tot Lot, or "Kiddie Park," as it is unofficially known. To begin, we needed to assess the problems at the park. Cornell Cooperative Extension identified trees for removal. Play equipment and pathways were inspected for safety and overall relevance. A brainstorming session followed, resulting in a punch-list of improvements and changes. Finally, we developed a proposal for ourselves and City officials. We had a very successful conference with the Mayor, Deputy Mayor, Public Safety Commissioner, Fire Chief, and Parks and Recreation supervisor. What followed was a commitment from the City to find funds, either through grants or donations, to address repair and material costs. In coordination with Parks and Rec., we offered our labor to help defray the expense. With the Public Safety Commissioner we agreed to maintain vigilant watch over the park after its restoration. Since a fire house is located right across the street, we hope the park can be used for fire safety demonstrations and education. Aside from the obvious educational benefits, this exchange would familiarize local kids and fire personnel with one another: Neighbors meeting neighbors. Work on the park is expected in early May. The Neighborhood Watch of South Central Troy is coordinating a clean-up for April, followed by a rehab effort in May. Both dates will be posted in the Troy United Ink. If you would like to get involved, have your own "salvation of Troy" effort underway, or want to organize a Neighborhood Watch you are welcome to call me at 271-9378. Every act of generosity pays the donor back. Godspeed. In cooperation with Troy United Ink Corp., a not-for-profit corporation 
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