If this title has you humming the theme song to Mr. Rogers, then you’re in the right mood for this post.
When someone hears the word “neighborhood” it usually conjures a warm fuzzy feeling or a “I wouldn’t go there even if I had an armored car” sentiment. It evokes a strong feeling, either way.
But how many neighborhoods (outside our own) have we truly experienced? How many neighborhoods in our own community do we pass judgment on or completely ignore? I don’t know about you, but when I travel to a city I specifically seek neighborhoods rather than tourist areas. Why? Because if you want to understand a city, that’s where you’ll find its heart & soul. When it comes to my own hometown, however, I’m woefully ignorant.
This year my city is celebrating its 150th anniversary (Sesquicentennial) & in honor of this, our ladies hiking society led a neighborhood walk. We chose an old neighborhood that rarely gets credit because it’s not one of the major “historic districts.” But what it lacks in antiquity, Edgemont makes up with charm & a genuine feel of community. People know their neighbors on the next street over, nearly every house has a chair on their front porch, & they have monthly “happy hours” & holiday gatherings. What I love most about this neighborhood is that it’s not a country club or gated community. This is an affordable hood with tiny cottages sitting next to stately homes, where a small income family can live next to an attorney or doctor. Where children can grow up next to kids who might look different or think different. It’s the kind of neighborhood that Mr. Rogers would be proud of.
And guess what…you probably have one like this in your own backyard. But you’ll never discover it in your car.
You have to walk the streets to experience it. You have to take your time to notice the details, to feel the uneven pavement beneath your feet, hear the sounds of various trees whistling in the wind as you move from block to block, ponder the idiosyncrasies of local architecture.
So here’s your challenge: find a neighborhood you’re unfamiliar with & walk it — I’ll bet you discover something new about yourself & your community.
