Wolf Creek - Edison Elementary

CONDITIONS and ROUTE
Some light snow and ice.  Overcast.  Temperature 21f.

I walked for about one and a half hours.  Heading west on Third Street to Paul Laurence Dunbar.  Then north on PLD across Wolf Creek, east along Negley, south along Edwin C. Moses, back west on Third.

INTERACTIONS
Due to the cold weather, I did not run into many people.  I greeted one lady who did not return the greeting, presumably she could not hear me since she had headphones in.

I saw a man who I had previously met outside of my garage last spring.  On my first meeting with him, he laughed at me for standing in my garage staring at a pile of wood.  I had been thinking through designs for a work bench.  He cautioned me not to think too hard or I might lose sight of reality.  It was morning and he was somewhat drunk.  He was perhaps late 50s early 60s.

Today I saw him at the "Clark Gas Station" that isn't really a gas station, just a convenience store (still need to find out WHY they have gas pumps but no gas).  I waved to him and said good morning and he waved back with a smile and returned the greeting.  As I walked past he asked if I had a smoke, I answered "no" but turned towards him to chat.  He extended his hand in greeting and I shook it, but apologized (I was wearing gloves and he was not) and asked to try the hand shake again without gloved hands.  He chuckled and obliged.  We chatted for a few minutes on the weather (it being cold).  When I asked how he had been (he didn't appear to recognize me) he talked about a surgery he recently had on his leg.  I asked to confirm his name and he started, surprised that I know or remembered his name.  I told him about our first meeting and claimed that I had looked familiar to him.  He was very pleased that I knew and remembered his name.  He told me he likes to get up in the morning and start his day walking around, he said "otherwise things don't go well".  I believe he lives in public housing.  He told me he might go over to the Wright Brothers museum to warm up.  He said he enjoyed being in there because it helped calm his mind down.  He said he has tried to get "those kids" to go in and see it but they refuse, he wasn't sure why "maybe they are scared of it or something".  After a few minutes I told him I needed to be on my way and he pulled me in for a hug saying "You've made my day Nathanael."  As I walked away he called me back and asked if I had any change.  I told him truthfully that "I don't have anything on me".  I leave my wallet and any money home when I go on walks so that I can honestly speak with all those I meet on equal footing.


OBSERVATIONS
I weaved interior streets and alleys.  I noticed light posts over the Wolf Creek bridge that had the Wright-Dunbar logo relief plates, likely purchased as one large project.  It stands to reason that Wright-Dunbar proper should, in time, extend out to the Paul Laurence Dunbar house.  This area is technically Wolf Creek, or "Progressive Wolf Creek", a seemingly defunct neighborhood organization that did much work from roughly the 1980s to some unknown time.

The Star of David logo can be seen on many house number placards throughout the Wolf Creek neighborhood.  It is not clear who maintains Little Eden Park, and I can't find anything online about either the Progressive Wolf Creek neighborhood being in existence, or this park.  It is a nice park with benches, charcoal grills, and trees.  Directly next to this park is a well maintained community garden that is associated with Five Rivers MetroParks and Edison preK-Elementary.

Dayton is a geographically bloated city.  It has transitioned from its peak population of 262,332 in 1960, to 141,527 during the last census in 2010.  As such, there are a tremendous amount of vacant buildings and lots throughout the city.  Blight is a major complaint from many residents.  While the City of Dayton spends a significant amount of money demolishing unprotected structures, there are still many unsightly and dangerous structures remaining.  

Dayton also has a major performance issue with her public school system.  We have Edison Elementary in our immediate area.  Walking around the school left much to be desired for inspirational environment for the children.  The school is located directly next to Wolf Creek, but there is no opportunity for easy access or natural education.  There are many empty and falling apart structures surrounding the school.

The school structure itself seems to be relatively new and well maintained.  There is one lot adjacent to the school that has "NO MOW" signs and appears to be a natural habitat project, though no paths or interaction with students is evident.  

REFLECTIONS

I very much enjoy walking in the cold, as I am well equipped for it.  However, I had thought on a previous walk of carrying a backpack with a few pairs of gloves and hats to share with anybody I met who might need them.  On this walk the thought returned.  To it I added another item that I have likewise previously considered: a small book that could be given away.  I had looked briefly before at some book that was a good anthology of classic pieces that would be nourishing for a person in need.  I will look again, and if no such book exists I should create it myself.  It should contain inspiration for a fundamentally well lived life, perhaps some social instruction, subversive spiritual insight etc.  It should attempt to strike a balance between inspiration and contentment.  He seemed to be attempting to live a decent life, whatever his environment and background are.  I would like to encourage people that a good life can be had in nearly every environment, and to make the best of where we are now.  

There should be a policy in place between the School system and the City to focus on the immediate area around the schools to remove blight, restore natural habitat to vacant lots etc.  The school should be as inspiring and positive as possible for the children.  For many, a good education can be a tool to improve one's life.  When children go to school, they should not be saturated in blight and evidence of failure.  

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