Take Up Space Community spaces are such an important part of urban culture. You can take in a public garden, skateboard park, walking path, swimming pool or playground and connect with people in an area close to home. London has some incredible community spaces. Yet it seems they are often under-utilized. Why? Mostly because in a city like London you don’t need them. Many people have big backyards, swimming pools or basketball nets enough that they don’t need to use outside spaces. However, in more densely populated parts of a city, this is not often possible. You have no choice but to find alternative outdoor options when you live in small quarters. So you are inclined to engage with other neighbours in passing, or families at the park. Sound terrible? Perhaps this luxury of not needing to use community spaces is something unique to Canada or London. But is it good? Statistics would suggest that even as one of the richest countries in the world, we are also the saddest. (I can be as introverted as the best of them). Is it possible that we have developed a false sense of true prosperity? If we choose to use public spaces, more might we experience the feeling of that richness? Maybe our kids would be safer on the streets if more people were using them. Maybe facilities would be cleaned more often by getting more use. Maybe gardens and parks would flourish with colour when there are people there to admire them. You can’t help but wonder, if we prefer some kinds of progress are we also choosing to lose our sense of connection? Community doesn’t exist anymore without deliberate attention, and as one of the oldest neighbourhoods in London, we can be grateful that Old East Village still has access to some great public spaces. Summer is finally here and we are looking forward to the activities it brings out in the neighbourhood. Happy summer everyone. See you out there!
Page 2 Old East Villager July-August 2025
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