PHOTOS: Health of the Hood - Maxwell Park

Story & Photos By Katrina Davis

The things that make Maxwell Park unhealthy are few and far between, but there nonetheless. Recently a store promoting lower prices replaced a grocery store on MacArthur. Even though the prices are better, the quality of the food has also gone down.Sometimes if you aren’t careful you can pick up a batch of moldy strawberries, or in my case a slab of moldy cheese.

There’s also debris that can be found sometimes. It can range from small pieces of trash, or big things like mattresses, TV sets, dressers and other cast offs that people have decided they no longer want in their homes. The big debris can sometimes block the street and create a hazard for people walking around.

In nearby neighborhoods there are a few bars where every so often you can see people fighting out front. And there are fast food restaurants that serve unhealthy food.

Another issue that my neighborhood has are stray animals. There are a lot of feral cats, and sometimes the more intimidating stray dogs walking unattended through the neighborhood. Unfortunately, with stray animals comes animal waste on the sidewalks and sometimes in yards.

In my neighborhood, and nearby neighborhoods, there are many things that you can find that keep it healthy. One of my favorite things about my neighborhood is that we continue to implement modern practices that help to keep the neighborhood thriving and up to date, while at the same time still practicing the old school methods of being a close knit community through different events throughout the year. Events like street festivals and community art shows.

A big thing I’ve noticed is the installment of bike routes and how more and more people are utilizing them. Which in turn helps people exercise and cuts air pollution.

We also have various mom and pop markets selling fresh fruits and vegetables, construction workers that continue to make much needed improvements to our streets, and a Yahoo! Group that keeps neighbors updated on things happening in the in the area. It’s practically a cyber neighborhood watch. The group is also a space for people to share their opinions on different things going on in Oakland.

There are the different types of gyms throughout the street. Having all these things in the same community helps to keep things close knit and continue to make the neighborhood a healthier place to live.

: Cigarettes can sometimes be seen being smoked by residents in the neighborhood. Creating a health hazard to themselves.

: Potted flowers can be found in the neighborhood, to help improve the appearance of the neighborhood.

: Fresh produce can be found in lots and mom and pop grocery stores in the neighborhood

: Moldy fruit can be found in the neighborhoods major grocery store.

: Flyers like this can be found around the neighborhood, helping to promote residents to come out and be supportive and knowledgeable of each other.

: Signs are posted around the neighborhood to discourage the act of vandalism.

: Bike routes have helped create an alternate means of transportation and created another source of exercise for the residents in the neighborhood.

: Laurel District has a heavy trash can present that helps to eliminate garbage.

: Fast food can be a quick resource for food, but unfortunately not the healthiest.

: Bars unfortunately can sometimes bring out poor behavior amongst its patrons.

: Lately there has been lots of work going in the neighborhood to help improve the streets.

: Ace Hardware store is great resource for gardening equipment. It’s also a great place to get items to help start your own home garden.

: In the Laurel art district, it is decorated with various mediums of art created by the community’s residents.

: Fresh produce can be found in small grocery stores in the neighborhood.

: A healthy kept up park in the Maxwell Park neighborhood.

: Debris can create a hazard to the side walks in the neighborhood.

PHOTOS: Health of the Hood – Maxwell Park

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