Fall in the Northside – I mean the
weather, not the missing sidewalks and messed up streets! Will we ever see smooth walks and
streets again? The sidewalks,
particularly, lend themselves to “fall in the Northside”. I am fascinated by the work being done
on Sixth between Broadway and Upper – no thought whatsoever to closing alleys
when there was only one lane on Broadway open. Thank goodness we have the center passing lane! Some days I wonder who gives out the
permits for all this work being done in our neighborhood, and if the “permiter”
realizes how many people use our sidewalks, crosswalks and streets.
Ahh…on to more positive topics. Our neighborhood is truly beautiful in the fall. Our old growth trees, some of the most
majestic in the city, provide color through the first of November. Our new growth trees are coming
along. Fall decorations, with
pansies, mums, pumpkins and other color, provide pleasant travel for the neighbors and for those who traverse
our streets. Restoration of homes on Broadway, Upper,
Sixth and the apartment complex at Sixth and Broadway certainly is improving
the streetscape – and is fun to watch.
Growing up in the Northside, one of the greatest pleasures
was walking to downtown and passing through the Transylvania campus to Gratz
Park. This remains a wonderful
path, and I am so happy to see more and more people walking on Broadway, Upper,
and Lime as well as the side streets.
With school back in session, the lazy days of summer have
morphed into a busy schedule for all of us, and I am no different. I am way behind on these Northside
memories entries, but this has been an incredibly busy time. One of the exciting events I want to share
is the final wrap up of the 125th anniversary of Elsmere Park. On September 4, we held a park picnic,
and over 60 people attended – the most excitement celebrated all the children
who now live on the park, including brand new babies, Chet for Cady and Ryan
Brown and Boone for Christi and Whit Hiler, and new neighbors, Emily and
Beatrix Cheatham. At the picnic,
young and older folks enjoyed the balloon toss and the egg in spoon race. Former neighbors came from Alabama and
various neighborhoods around Lexington. Park picnics on Elsmere Park started in the
1970’s and have been held most years since then. All this in
celebration of one of Lexington’s earliest subdivisions.
