Christmas In Hemming Park

[ronchamblin]

My living room, facing Hemming Park, allowed me to see on Christmas Eve and on Christmas Day, an outpouring of individuals, several dozen, bringing food and gifts for the needy inhabitants of the park.  The huge outpouring of care and generosity quelled any thoughts I had to involve myself too, such was the sheer number of givers, who seemed at times to outnumber the needy.

Seldom are gifts so well matched to needs as in the occasion I observed on Christmas morning when one happy fellow performed an almost complete change of clothes on the steps of the Snyder Memorial Church.  The newly dressed fellow then dumped at least some of his old clothes into the trash can.   
 
This obvious concern for the needy in the park is encouraging as it seems to be genuine, an expression of concern and love for one’s fellow human beings who are obviously in need.

These events allow me to ponder whether, underlying everyone’s workaday habits throughout the year, if there is enough concern for these people in the park, to allow or cause a movement for a permanent solution to the conditions which cause or invite them to habitually invade and occupy the park every day of the year.

As for me, I accept and observe, with some satisfaction, most of the people who inhabit the park, as their presence reminds me that our perspective from our little castles of reasonable comfort, often does not inform us of the whole story, and that there are those amongst us who suffer and are deficient of so many necessities, from little fault of their own, who have suffered societal habits and cruelties we are all aware of if we stop to contemplate them,  and who have few real opportunities to emerge into a status of reasonable dignity and societal productivity. 

There are, admittedly, individuals in the park who, by way of mental deficiencies, cannot cause their own emergence into a normal and productive life.  Therefore, unless they die of natural causes, are killed for five dollars or so, are incarcerated long term, move out of town, or are convinced to move into an often proposed day center, the park is stuck with them; and this, whether or not the park is cleansed of the tables, chairs, and benches, as they will sit on the 200 feet of ledges as they have always done,  or stand around as they have always done. 

I hope that a movement for a day center, to serve as an option for those who occupy the park, can be successful, as the center just might be the best alternative to destroying Hemming Park by removing those aspects which give any park the qualities which establish its essence.  We should imagine a park having the most attractive and beautiful qualities and attributes.  We should then build that park for all to enjoy.

When we have a problem, such as with the park occupiers, we should solve it's fundamental cause once and for all, which is the lack of alternatives for the occupiers, and not, out of desperation and destructive emotions, including perhaps a little hatred and racism, allow ourselves to carelessly destroy something beautiful and necessary for the good of our city core. 

[urbanlibertarian]

+1

[JeffreyS]

Much better than pulling the chair out from under them.  Merry Christmas.

[Bill Hoff]

I hope that a movement for a day center, to serve as an option for those who occupy the park, can be successful, as the center just might be the best alternative to destroying Hemming Park by removing those aspects which give any park the qualities which establish its essence. 

The proposed day center would not be an alternative for Hemming Park and would probably have very little impact on activities in the park.

[strider]

I hope that a movement for a day center, to serve as an option for those who occupy the park, can be successful, as the center just might be the best alternative to destroying Hemming Park by removing those aspects which give any park the qualities which establish its essence. 

The proposed day center would not be an alternative for Hemming Park and would probably have very little impact on activities in the park.

Mr. Huff is corrrect in that the people using Hemming Plaza will still be using Hemming Plaza after a day center is established.  The hope should be that some of them will be cleaner, be better informed about their options and perhaps a a bit more hopful for a better future.  However, we should also recognize that many using the Plaza now are not homeless and have no need for  a day center.  They are simply using Hemming Plaza for what it is intended for, a public gathering place for the residents of Jacksonville to enjoy.

[ronchamblin]

Thanks for criticism and ideas Bill, Strider, and Stephen.

Am working now but when time allows I'll try to qualify my opinion on the park/day center question. Who knows, maybe the process of thinking on it will allow me to change the opinion.