Forget the free movies in the parks.
Here’s an idea. Feel free to run with it.
Community members spend a few hours cleaning up any of the many abandoned/neglected lots. The City can provide some tools, bags, and gloves for this. Properties owned by the City of Hartford would be the easiest to navigate, but those that have long been neglected by other owners could be worked into this to, just so long as that owner is later billed for services rendered, much like LSNI was/is doing.
Following the removal of litter, Christmas trees, animal carcasses, and what have you, volunteers could be provided with refreshments purchased with money that would have otherwise been spent paying people to clean the property. Then, MECA can come in and set up one of the free films, bringing life and something positive to an otherwise overgrown heap of debris, while at the same time, helping residents develop a sense of ownership over where they live.
This will be more challenging in some neighborhoods than others. For instance, the relatively maintained City-owned lot at 45 Evergreen has a pet waste bag dispenser installed. Last year, West End Civic Association sponsored a free film on the site. Although it became vacant in 2010 after a fire destroyed the apartment building previously on site, the building was quickly demolished and site cleared.
Compare that to lots in other neighborhoods, like 142 Park Terrace in Frog Hollow. The building, which had burned, was demolished in 2010. Aside from removing debris from that structure, no improvements have been made to the lot since. The space is used as a parking lot. The sidewalk torn up, years now, has never been repaired.
There are many other parcels like this, or in worse shape, throughout the city. With LSNI — the underfunded, understaffed attempt by the City of Hartford to deal with blighted properties — “postponing” another quarterly meeting until the next quarter and showing no signs of regaining its lost momentum, its time for creative alternatives to be considered. And it can’t always fall entirely on KNOX.
What better than for those trying to attract visitors to Hartford to say this is not a one-way relationship, that to get something, maybe give something first.
Caroline Finnegan
This is a fantastic idea. I’d be very willing and happy to help make it a reality. It would be great if more of Hartford looked like people love it as much as they say they do.
Richard
I don’t think that I am up to doing all that work at my age but must say I have always wondered about picking up after a dog. What is left behind in the grass? How do they get rid of the pee? Just a little rain to wash away the tinkle? Don’t get me wrong I am glad that folks do pick up (well some of them, I have been downtown in a stretch near the park where folks don’t) but would never sit or lay on the grass where I know that a doggie has roamed and done its #1 or 2. Now the wild geese in our parks are a whole other story.
One thing that I have noticed in Hartford is that many of these projects get a heck of a lot of publicity, folks come out and change the landscape and then forget to keep it up. Take for instance the corridor of Hope that was created a few years back on Capitol Ave. Oh how everyone scrubbed, painted and planted. Check it out this summer. Even our famous bridge is gone and we must now try to side step the murky slimy water. So it is one thing to make nice but to keep nice takes work, time, energy and commitment.
david klein
WECA will be showing another movie on July 16 at 45 Evergreen (The Amazing Spiderman 2) and the city/WECA will be cleaning up the lot. Come join in the fun