Neighborhood Grid Keeps “Lakewood Alive”
What a glorious morning! I have been at this exactly one month (I started on February 5th), and today might have been my favorite weather day so far. The sun was just cresting over St. Luke’s Church as I started my walk down Chase and the temperature was perfect.
I had my second tour guide today. Kathleen Upper (Development Director at Lakewood Alive) dropped her three kids off at Lakewood Catholic Academy and then motored home to meet me for a walk down her street. She was quick to point out that the Little Free Library on Chase also had a Little Little Library filled with treats for our furry friends. Nice touch Chase! This was a perfect opportunity to work on my selfie skills.
Kathleen is an 18-year resident of Chase, and I could tell that the thing she enjoyed most about this street was the network of friends her kids have made. When she emailed me to set-up the tour, she described a “sweet group of kids that play outside together year-round”.
At the end of the street, I noticed Lakewood’s Power Station hidden behind a wall. I pictured the maze of telephone poles and electrical wires emanating from this Power Station to all the corners of Lakewood. Our neighborhoods keep “Lakewood Alive” in a similar manner. It is our streets, our block parties, our special events that create a sense of belonging and keep us wanting to stay in Lakewood. I’m just glad I get a chance to explore all of them this year!
