When I think about the neighborhood I grew up in, I fondly remember many summer BBQs, holiday gatherings, and whole-neighborhood games of hide and seek. It was a place where everyone knew each other’s families and looked out for one another—neighbors helping neighbors. Westside Park is one of the few neighborhoods in our valley that still retains a bit of that old-school charm. Street hockey games are played, and kids still knock on doors asking their friends to come out and play.
In recent years, however, there have been many new faces moving in and out, and the common theme among neighbors was how many people we didn’t know. There was a shared wish for a gathering where we could all come together. Thanks to the generous support of the Valley Foundation, we were able to make that happen at the beginning of September.
The event was a wonderful opportunity to meet many new neighbors. I saw people exchanging business cards, sharing phone numbers, and even arranging playdates. Over and over, I heard neighbors say, “We should do this again,” or “Why don’t we do more of this? It’s so nice seeing everyone and catching up.” There’s already talk of making this event an annual tradition, with ideas for a winter meetup and even an Easter egg hunt in the spring.
I believe this event was just the beginning of many more gatherings and connections to come. As I looked around at the smiling faces of my neighbors and their families, I felt an overwhelming sense of gratitude and belonging to the Westside Park neighborhood that I’m proud to call home.
