The Peoples Park might be a small park, but it packs a mighty punch. Earlier today I took the time to walk around this park, which is located on Main Street, right next to the Tri-Main Complex. At first, the park looked as if it might be locked. Then I pushed the gate open and voilà, a miniature wonderland presented itself.
There is a footpath that winds along the perimeter of the park, with other paths intersecting through it. Each section appears to have its own purpose. There is a quant amphitheater, a set of drums made from recycled canisters, garden plots, public works of art, strategic plantings, a shed, water faucets with hoses, custom reclaimed benches, a Little Library, umbrellas for shade, picnic benches, artisan bird houses, Adirondack chairs, raised garden beds… the list goes on an on.
There should be a park like this in every neighborhood. There is something so spiritual and intrinsically beautiful about this green getaway. This park allows neighbors to host events and functions. It’s a way to meet other people. It’s a way to get involved. It’s a wonderful oasis in the city that is wholesome and sacred.
One thing that I might suggest is to enlist a local graffiti artist to paint the doors on the shed that have a couple of tags on them. The colorful graffiti would be inviting from the street – the current doors are foreboding. The park gets a big bonus for not pulling the milkweed plants that appear to be growing naturally by the entrance gate. That means that the monarch butterflies will have another place to feed along their migratory route. This might appear to be a small deal, but milkweed has been virtually eradicated from parks throughout the city. We need to do our part to help restore the monarch’s natural habitat, whether it’s in a public park or your own backyard.
If you want to get involved with the park, or check out the ongoing programming, then visit this Facebook page.
Hours: Monday through Sunday – 8am to dusk