RiverdaleParkReader: May 2007

Gardens

The "Mattie" flower. Wonderful, hardy flower. Needs nourishment and water every day!

The MacGregor Flower. Loves Water!

Mrs. Gossett's Rose Bush.

The Gardens at Bragg's Beach!

This dark purple Iris is called "Bragg"

This beautiful blue Iris is called "Larry"

Front Gardens

Life in Riverdale Park

Something is speaking to me to write my story of life in Riverdale Park. When I first moved here in July of 1970, the name was just Riverdale. On my third day living in Riverdale, my phone rang. It was my real estate agent who worked for PG Properties. I can't remember her name, but I remember she said her boy friend lived on one of the other streets. She asked how things were going and I said fine. Then she says, "did you see the black people who live around the corner? They don't come out much." I couldn't believe what I was hearing and I just didn't understand what she was saying. In the next few weeks I met the "black people" around the corner. I don't want to write their name, because I didn't ask permission, so I will call my friend Mrs. X. Mrs. X became my best friend in Riverdale and to this day she is still my best friend in Riverdale. I love her and her family. We had great times together with our children and did so many fun things. Now, back in 1970 the black population in Riverdale was almost non existant. In fact, my friend moved in just before I did. She had firebombs thrown through her windows. (this was prior to my move). Now, Riverdale Park is a diverse community. I would like to think that my friend Mrs. X and I started the trend and it grew from our friendship. (By the way some people in town called me the N word). I am happy with how the community has grown and I love the fact that we have a diverse population. I remember that the council person who represented my ward was Joe Gebbia. I really liked him. I called him once and asked if he could get some signs up saying "Slow, children at play". The sign was there in no time. The sign is still standing at the corner of Ravenswood and Taylor. Joe moved out of town suddenly and I never new what happened. I think it was some disagreement with politics. I think it was a loss to the community. Through the years I met many, many people. I had 4 retired women living on my street. They all had the history of Riverdale in their heads and were willing to share it. What a great relationship I had with them. I alway respected the stories the old people tell. I remember town day down at the big park with the parachutes! The music! All the people! All the fun! The bike trail was a great addition. We would ride down the trail and then go off on a path and end up at the U of M. research farm where they had very unusual goats, ponies etc. and we'd stop and look and then go on our way. We would always somehow arrive at the "landing strip" where people would fly their hobby airplanes. That dosen't happen anymore, but is was fun to watch.
When I think back over the years and I look at today in my town, I see some very good changes. Then I see some things that I wonder about. I don't know if I am right, but I have always been sensitive and pick up the undercurrents of things. I am now seeing a group of young people moving into "my" town. They come here for the "cheaper" housing prices. They don't want to spend the money for Arlington, Montgomery County, Silver Spring, Takoma Park, so they flock to the nice homes in Riverdale with their reasonable price tags. We say Welcome, good to have you. But do they really want to live in Riverdale? Or, do they want to change it to something more upscale, get rid of the blue collars, get rid of the locallly owned business and bring in Borders, Trader Joes, Starbucks. Make us change for the better to exactly what they want but couldn't afford in other places. I hope I am wrong. I say lets keep our diversity. Let's all live together. We have one of the best learning environments right here! The only way to learn of other cultures is to live with them and we have that opportunity. Its a wonderful thing. If changing Riverdale into some snobish enclave is progress, I don't want it. My children have grown up without prejudice. I am so proud of that. They don't need "diversity" training on their jobs. Yes, it is happening. Prince Georges County was the first county where black and white lived together in communities and now we are embracing the Spanish Community as well.
It didn't come easy and we have had our problems, but we are on the right track.