Paul Bass Photo
Mid-morning at the oasis: Dominique and Bamboo Thursday in Rainbow Park.
Dominique decided to turn right a block sooner than usual on her way home. She walked by a rainbow and entered a new world.
That happened a week and a half ago. Dominique turned right from Howe Street onto Edgewood Avenue rather than onto Chapel. She encountered a sign atop a fence for “Rainbow Park.”
She gazed through the gate upon a winding wonderland of flora and brick pathways woven into a lot squeezed between multi-family homes. In a year and a half living three blocks away, she had never noticed it before.
Thursday morning Dominique was back in the park relaxing on a bench while her schnauzer poodle Bamboo explored the winter plants. She has returned to the park almost every day since that chance discovery. It has become her “restorative” morning routine before beginning her day as a Yale law student.
She has also been bringing her friends there to introduce them to the park, which neighbors created in the 1990s and have maintained ever since.
“Something made me turn down the street and I was like, ‘What is this? It is amazing!’” Dominique (who asked not to have her last name mentioned) said during a Rainbow conversation on the “Word on the Street” segment of WNHH FM’s “LoveBabz LoveTalk” program. “The sign just drew me in. It’s beautifully laid out, all the plants.”
The park reminds her of similar pocket parks in reclaimed vacant lots in her native South Side of Chicago, “so that felt familiar, but I hadn’t seen one that beautiful yet.”
In her studies, Dominique came across a similar unexpected discovery in the fall that has set her on a new path.
It came in a class on “healthy housing” in which students are paired with local nonprofits. Dominque was assigned Beulah Land Development Corporation. She’s working with the group on an as-yet-unannounced affordable-housing project. The experience has focused her on pursuing a career in affordable housing.
The conversation wrapped up as Bamboo followed Dominique out of the park. Dominique was headed to a meeting with a prospective student she’s helping through the “Access to Law School” program, enabling others to discover their own new life paths.
Click on the video to watch the full conversation with Dominque on the “Word on the Street” segment of WNHH FM’s “LoveBabz LoveTalk” program.
Antillean Rocks
Meanwhile, another new world was emerging two blocks down Edgewood on Day Street, where a Carabetta Companies construction crew transferred a final pile of rubble from what used to be the Antillean Manor housing cooperative …
… into a Rockster impactor …
… to be crushed and hauled away, leaving the property ready for construction of a new apartment complex.
The above video shows the work underway.
Click here to subscribe to WNHH FM’s“LoveBabz LoveTalk” and here to subscribe to other WNHH programs.
Click here and see below for previous“Word on the Street” episodes and write-ups.
Dreams Flagged on Ellsworth
Word On The Street: ICU Crew Lands At Bella’s
Word on the Street: Park Trees Preserved
Pizzeria Raises Dough For Turkish Earthquake Victims
Word On Springside: Hot Pile, Cooler Planet
Word On Winthrop: Mom/Daughter TCBs
Word On Whalley: Wings Rise; Neon Fades
Word On Beers Street: That’s The Drill
Word On The Street: Sisterhood Is Wow-erful
Word On The Street: 1st Step Taken
Word On The Street: New Loos Arrive
Word On The Street: Kash Starts Fresh
Word On The Street: The Gig Cycle Spins
Word On The Street: Dumped Trash Disappears
Word On The Street: Job Interview Awaits
Word On The Street: Callaghan Suits Up
Officer McKernan Refuels For Double Duty
Word On The Street: Fred Keeps Moving
Word On The Street: Mimosa Mania
Word On The Street: Terry Hands Over The Brakes
Safety Hunter Keeps Eye On The Rising Tiers
Leather’s Grandson Returns To The Soil
Jorge Opens A Door
Word On The Street: Dad Awaits The Call
Word On The Street: Bridgette Beats The Sun
Word On The Street:“Blessed,” & Ready For Busy Barber Season
The Word On Brownell Street: Call Luciano
Nana Readies Leaf Bag #32
Word On The Street: Groom Plans Hectic Holiday, Needs Car Back
The Word On Garden Street: Turkey Times Two
Dr. J Clears The Way
Estelita Makes The Journey Back Home
Butts, Burger King Wrappers Vanish At Wendy’s Drive-Thru
Skateboard J Does A 360
Word On The Street: The Banana Vote Emerges
Word On The Street: Sprinkler Heads
Word On Orchard Street: Cheap Gas
Word On The Street: Keep On Truckin’
Martin Readies 1 Last Bridge To Nature
Word on the Street: Call Her“Queen”
Word on the Street: Coach Lance Called It
Word On Dixwell: Scooter Saves Gas
Budding Architect’s Word On The Street: New Haven’s More Laid Back Than Hong Kong
Word On Street:“Smell Good In Your Hood”
Blood (Pressure) Talk Comes To Barber’s Chair
Word On Street: Rizzo Can Stand The Heat
The Tomato Plot Thickens
Without Illusions, Lamont Stewart Makes The Most Of His Morning Walk
Pro-Punk Poet Prof Starts Summer Stretch
Barista Soaks Up New Hometown Flavor
Word On The Street: Park Pre-Work Workout Sets The Tone Homeless, & Working Exit 5
Aldo Salazar Does The Circuit
Brisa Mendoza STEMs The Graduation Tide
Timmy Turner Takes The Long View
Bike To Work Week Pulls Up To State Street Station
He’s Making Sure Soldiers Won’t Be Forgotten
Legion Ave. Rite Aid Closing; Actor Bummed
Word On Church St.: Drugs Are Everywhere
Indoor“Sunrise” Breakfasts Resume For The Hungry & The Homeless
“VillaFame” Has Designs On The World
Cherry Trees & NFTs Blossom In Wooster Square
9th Square Grows On New New Havener
Warbler Watcher Waits In The Woods
Reggie Gibson Makes A Clean Sweep
Sorry, Wooster Street: This New New Havener Has His Eye On Whalley Pie
Demons Stalk Methadone Run
Surveyor Bundles Up
Grandpa Boyd’s Toes Froze
Jay Jordan Shows Up Early For First Day At Mickey D’s
Track Champ Sets Sights On Firehouse
Can Collector Seeks Redemption
Reborn Stetson Library Opens Its Doors
Mom Prays To Pause Violence
Commuter Rolls With Switch To Train
Word on the Street: Math
Word At The Barber Shop: Ukraine Needs Our Help
Word On The Street: Pain At The Pump
Hamden’s Female Leadership Team Marks International Women’s Day
Taylor Picks Up Her Step
Wednesday’s Word on Grand:“Survival”
Turbocharged Community Soup Kitchen Plans Return To Indoor Dining
Prof On Track To Put Pain Behind Him
Word on The Street: New Beginnings
Lyric Hall Goes With The Flow
1 Valentine’s Day Later, Love Survives
Budget Airline Celebrates 100 Days At Tweed
Bobby’s Not Snitching »Grill Goes Cold After Inspector’s Visit
(Waste)Water St. Report: Omicron Still Fading
Word On The Street: Love Rides On Metro-North
Strolls Keep Soulmates On Life’s Path »Word on the Street: Where’s There’s Smoke …
Dude, Where’s His Car?
Word On The Street:“Level Up”
Word On The Street: Paying Rent, Staying Safe
Word On The Street: Brrrr!
Word On The Street: Caffeine
Word On The Street: 10 AM Georgia Hots
We need more of these lovely pocket parks maintained by the neighbors for the neighborhood. They bring healing through nature bathing and generate oxygen and capture pollution and reduce anxiety and depression. The city needs to reverse their stance on the sale of Kensington Park and provide support to pocket parks to help them be maintained and preserved.