The Observer, October 6, 2006
Volume XXXIX, Issue 6
Cleveland on Fire: More development, visitors needed for Cultural Gardens
Cleveland was once one of the richest and largest cities in America, which is apparent in the cultural wonders that surround the city – Severance Hall, Lakeview Cemetery, and the remnants of Millionare's Row, just to name a few. After decades of neglect and sprawled movements, certain efforts are beginning to clear the dust and cobwebs from these urban gems. Rockefeller Park, adjacent to University Circle, is a storied wonder that has recently seen rejuvenation and with continued planning should become a catalyst to spur development and attraction.
Most students do not venture through the cultural gardens of Rockefeller Park due to its bad reputation for security, lack of knowledge, and sub-standard maintenance. This is truly a disservice to all parties involved because the parkway contains a series of gardens telling the proud heritage and traditions of cultures ranging from Chinese to Italian. With each section landscaped differently, the gardens reflect both the values of their people and the unique land that they sit on. Fountains, statues, quotes, and pathways can provide an afternoon of discovery and ruminations.
However, that picturesque setting is not always the experience that visitors have of Rockefeller Park. The high volume of Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard forces traffic through the gardens with no chances for cars to pull over and enjoy its beauty. Furthermore, with the geographically spreading society, many cultures do not have the strong identity that once created the magnificent gardens and their maintenance is not regular. Lastly, as the neighborhoods surrounding the park have sharply declined, so has the secure feeling one has traveling through the gardens – a direct result of poor lighting, lack of pedestrian activity, and a lack of security forces.
Even with those forces working against the cultural gardens, there are success stories that point to returned glory for Rockefeller Park. This past weekend, for the first time in 21 years, a new garden debuted when the Indian community celebrated their footprint in the park. Highlighted by a larger than life statue of Mahatma Ghandi, people from nearly all backgrounds danced and walked down the park celebrating One World Day. This upcoming weekend will see another garden celebrate its opening as the Latvian community will open up another landscaped gem.
There is no reason that the cultural gardens of Rockefeller Park should not be a destination for both Clevelanders and visitors – especially when combined with their proximity to University Circle. In order for that to occur, however, multiple achievements must be reached to work against the problems that the park currently has.
Visiting the park should be made more accessible through parking and traffic flow on the street should be slowed or diverted to promote a better atmosphere for pedestrian activity. Continued programming efforts should bring visitors to the park in all seasons, with an outdoor skating rink to light up the winter scene. Those changes, added with a better funded and consistent maintenance plan, would create a unique and gorgeous park to attract visitors, developers, and students from down the street.
