My Pocket Park
|A pocket park is a small park that is available to the general public. They are usually built in small, vacant lots. They aren't as large as a regular park, but this doesn't have to be a disadvantage. A small park could be appreciated for everything in it, in comparison to a larger one. A lot of times, equipment in larger parks gets neglected, and this is a waste of money. With a smaller park, children have no choice but to explore their limited surroundings.
Throughout Chicago, there are many spaces not being put to use. With a city as large as Chicago, there is no point of having empty spaces. All they do is allow more gang activity. Gangs are a major problem in Chicago. We can help destroy them by limiting the number of places that they can gather and decide on gang activities. There is no reason for parents to fear their children being killed just because they want to have fun. Also, vacant lots waste space that could be used for more productive purposes. With a city as large as Chicago and with as many people as Chicago has, we can not afford for any space to be unused.
Also, there are too many families that don't know their neighbors. With a pocket park, neighbors get to spend time with their children in a safe manner, and get to finally meet their neighbors at the same time. This way, when children want to play in the pocket park, their parents will let them as long as an adult is close by. Neighbors will build trust in each other, enough to trust with their children. This is the way it should be. There should not be a situation when you don't know who everyone on your block is.
In addition, I feel as if my pocket park is different from the rest because I want to put an emphasis on fitness. These days, no one cares about being fit. People make up all kinds of excuses. I want to eliminate every single excuse possible by allowing free fitness equipment such as dip bars and pull up bars. The equipment is free and is only a short walk away so that people have no excuses for not doing the work they should be. Health is no joke, so people will have no reason to not exercise. It is good to encourage children to exercise as well. This park is geared mainly towards teens-adults.