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Gabby Alvarez
David B. Miller
Writing 101
10, October 2016
Orangecrest Community Park
Every park brings some type of joy and happiness to all parents, children, teenagers, and
even the elderly. It is an adventure for children and a getaway for parents. In my hometown,
Riverside, California, Orangecrest community park was where everyone went for some quality
time with friends or family. This was the park that gave kids their best friends to this present day,
little girls very first games as a softball player, and days on the playground children will never
forget. There have been many amazing memories with people who cherish the park, and know it
has sentimental value to it. As it came down to my last days in Riverside, ready to take on
college, realization hit, and visiting the park was a top priority. The excitement grew as the park
got closer and closer, but the park that was once loved and cherished, did not seem the same as
before. There were barely any families, not a body in sight; trash was everywhere and it was a
horrible mess. The playground was not in good condition, and the baseball, softball, soccer fields
all had uneven ground, holes, and divots. The place that gave people long lasting friendships and
happiness was no more. The feeling it gave off was depressing, and had a silence that was
unwanted.
The problems that were seen when visiting Orangecrest were problems that this park has
never had previously. The park was very dangerous due to damage and garbage all over, and was
not safe for children at all. The swing sets were broken on the playgrounds, and the slides were
old and rusty. The playground had no value to it anymore; it looked abandoned and it is easy to
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see why. If some kids went to try and play on the playground, they would no doubt get some
type of sickness or health problem. This can also be a big problem, because if there is no
playground that kids can use then there will be no children visiting the park. A child’s health is
very important, and they need to have some outdoor activity to be healthy and strong. Without
the playground, there is no reason for a kid to go to the park unless he or she is playing a sport.
This is a huge problem for children that are too young for the park, and also for those who are
not involved in sports. Also, sports are a big thing at this park, they have baseball, softball,
soccer, and even football practices on the soccer field. The baseball and softball fields have
uneven ground and the grass is filled with enormous holes, and was also too long; the same thing
could be said about the soccer field as well. This can cause adults, teenagers, and children to
