My childhood parks

2 years ago I sat down on a bench in Granville overlooking one of the greatest parks of all time; “Wild Wood”. Sitting I could hear the noise of creaking as the old wood attempted to rest. A painful reminder of the splinters that I used to get as a kid. The swings that used to bring my feet to the sky blowed in the suttle wind. Everything felt the same except for one thing, the park was empty. 2 years later 2018 the park had been destroyed. The community had made the decision to work together in renovating the new park. Although the old park is held dear to many Granvillians hearts, We were determined as a unit to create a safer and similar experience for the upcoming generations. The Wildwood renovation is only a small fraction of the improvements that Granvillians has made to Granville. While there are many indications that Granville enjoys maintaining a frozen community, through their parks you can see a strive for community improvement and safety.

When piecing together the purpose of a Granvillian, it can be hard to determine what their community means as a whole. Taking a closer look at their parks can be an easy way to determine what it means to be a Granvillian. One park in particular comes to mind when I think of a Granvillian; The Opera House Park. At first glance of the park, an outsider would assume it to be an open lot. A closer look at the park transforms it into a message of improvement. Flowers and trees blow in the wind as the cars pass by. Families are often seen having picnics surrounded by honeybees as they pollinate the plants. A moss covered bell lies in the grass with the name Opera House Park. The Opera House Park is dedicated to the great fire of the old Opera House in 1982 (GranvilleHistory). The bell represent much more than a memorial for the Opera House. The bell, flowers, and trees represents the overwhelming message of “growth”. Granville built the park as a way of pushing Granvillians forward from the past. The parks size is made small to represent a message that all Granvillians follow. Persist past our mistakes and focus on improvement made for the future.

The Granville Opera House depicts a wide variety of messages through it’s symbolism. The first thing that an individual notices is the old bell laying in the grass. On the bottom of the bell lies a small layer of moss. In the center of the bell a large crack. The bell is small in compared to the catastrophic event that occurred. Granville did this on purpose in an attempt to symbolize that Granvillians favor the safety of the future over the past events. The crack in the bell symbolizes the preservation of the idea. That at once Granville was broken, and the community should always look back at the mistakes that we made.

The second thing that an individual will notice is the type of people visiting the park. Picnics with families enjoying food and the company of their relatives. You hear laughter from the kids as they play through the grass. This depicts how All Granvillians operate as one unit. It could also stand for the focus of Granvilles necessity of having children.

The nature that surrounds the park provides a message for the community of Granville. Every year the community replants new flowers in the park. A small thin layer of moss lies on the bottom of the tree trunks. In this a person can depict that a Granvillian represents the strive for growth. In which every person should provide and nourish the community.

Granville is a community that lives through the Opera House park. Are there any other parks that represent the overall message; “what it is mean to be a Granvillian?” do these other parks represent the same morals that the community of Granville shall follow? How do these parks use different techniques to emphasize the roots of change?

After reading the article The US has become a nation of suburbs, I’ve determined the pitch, complaint, and the moment that the writer portrays. The pitch is the first thing that I identified in the article. The pitch or overall message that the writer is trying to portray is the populations shift from rural living environment to the cities/suburbs. The writer states that the millennial’s are increasing in population and are surpassing the baby boomers. Data shows that the millennial are pron to living in cities. The writer also connected the cities to overpopulation and the effects that the people have on the environment. The next thing that I identified was the complaint. Toward the middle of the article the writer states the effects on overpopulation in cities. Since the population is increasing in cities the economy will get better, but as a result the environmental footprint will increase. The amount of pollution will increase due to the density that operates in the cities. The writer also questioned how the millennial will create a sustainable living environment for the future. The writer questions wether the millennia’s will follow to the suburbs or stick within the cities. The last thing that I identified was the moment. I believe that the reason the writer chose to write about this given topic is the surpass of baby boomers population in correlation with the overpopulation. Now that overpopulation has become an apparent topic in the last 5 years, I believe that many citizens are becoming concerned with living environments and the environment. The writer almost was asking questions rather than giving his/her opinion. I think the writer is trying to inform and get the community to start thinking about these issues for the future.

This source supports my claim in my analysis paper. The way that the article portrays a shift in living location can connect with my theme of “a shift from a once loved environment to a safer and pleasing environment.”

Method

Some repetitions that have occurred is the overall theme of preserving an area. Wild wood was a preserved area since it was found in 1993 and preserves the hill. Sugar loaf park was founded in 1896 and is set to preserve the quarries. The Bio-reserve was founded in 1966 and has been preserving over 350 acres for land ever since. Another similarity is the change that two of the parks have represented. The Bio-reserve and Wild wood have both made renovations in benefit of the ecosystem. The Bio reserve has just recently finished a two year project of solar power. It is estimated to provide 15% of the annual electricity of Denison campus. Wildwood has also finished a project in 2018. A group called “the children of the world” orchestrated to tear down the old park and place a more eco-friendly and sustainable park. The new park was made of old wood chips and concrete. This new combination is very sustainable and safer for children to play on. Some strands that are seen is the overall public coming together to improve the safety of children and future adults. Another strand that is seen is push on improving the environment. Some binaries are the purpose of each park. Wild wood is a park for people who are looking for picnics and playing with friends. While Sugar loaf park is used for mostly preserving and maintaining the ecosystem. Another binary is the change in each park. Sugar loaf has sustained no dramatic changes in the ecosystem since it was founded. While the bio-reserve has been altering the effectiveness of the park for years now.

10 on 1 paragraph

I am choosing the parks of Granville as my home. It represents home to me because it represents the safety of the present and future for humans. Wild wood has been preserving a park since 1966. A group called “the children of the world” every year has sealed the wood of the playground. As a result the children will be less likely to get large cut from the wood. The parks of Granville represent preservation of beauty. Sugar loaf park has been preserving the quarries of Granville since 1896. Since then the park has resisted things such as houses and other building built on the property. The parks of Granville represent growth. The Denison Bio-reserve was founded in 1966. It has been preserving over 350 acres of land. The park just recently finished a solar power unit built right into the reserve. It has an estimated power supply of 15% of the Denison campus. Overall I love these parks because they represent my childhood. I’ve visited these places ever since I moved in 2004 from Boston. Since then i’ve gone on field trips to the parks and hiked the trails a continues number of times. One of my favorite things to do after soccer games was go to wildwood and play with my friends on the swings.

Miller, Brian. “Granville Impressions.” The Advocate, Sep 24 2006, ProQuest. Web. 18 Feb. 2019.

https://search-proquest-com.proxy.lib.ohio-state.edu/midwestnews1/docview/441950752/48C21B3CE5D1498FPQ/1?accountid=9783

The source above supports the theme of my paper. The writer promotes an early 2006 Granville artistry exhibit occuring at the Bryn Du Mansion. Through the paintings the writer emphasizes the importance of beauty, and how the stalemate of infrastructures increases the attractiveness of Granville. “Granville’s historic ambiance is admired by many who live outside the community, including artists (Impressions).” Maybe the beauty of granville is portrayed through the maturity of its framework.

“Rural-Style Renovation Proposed at Granville Entrance.” The Advocate, Mar 03 2011, ProQuest. Web. 18 Feb. 2019.

https://search-proquest-com.proxy.lib.ohio-state.edu/midwestnews1/docview/854711591/235D18601A3146A3PQ/1?accountid=9783

The source above supports the theme of my paper. The article reports the process in 2011 of renovating an old building in hopes of decreasing the appalling depiction of the current building. The writer chose this topic in an attempt to depict the communities strive for the creation of beauty. “said the current building “is one of the uglier buildings in Granville. We are trying to make it look better (Renovation).” Change is a technique that granville uses in an attempt of creating an appealing community.

Miller, Brian. “Village Grants Propel Non-Profits’ Renovation Projects.” The Advocate, Oct 21 2009, ProQuest. Web. 18 Feb. 2019.

https://search-proquest-com.proxy.lib.ohio-state.edu/midwestnews1/docview/442152726/ACB19DDE87814D8CPQ/16?accountid=9783

The source above distracts from the theme of my paper. In the source the writer clarifies the importance of the museum renovation in 2009. The writer derives an effective way of preservation of beauty by improving the quality of the unseen aspects. “Together, they makes the building more comfortable for the public and protect the collection from humidity, said Clark (Grants).” The writer is partially correct, and maybe the strive for improvement is a technique of beauty.

“Solar at Denison.” Denison University. Denison, October 18 2017.

https://denison.edu/campus/green/feature/102012

The source above contradicts my theme of my paper. The website talks about the importance that solar energy is to their campus in 2017. The writer depicts the importance of emphasizing technology over beauty in order to improve the quality of life. “Denison provided about 10 acres of ‘compromised’ land, the top soil had been removed for other uses and scrub trees and nonnative plants had filled the void (Denison).” Technology is used as a technique for improvement, but maybe technology can represent beauty mentally.

“Granville Parks.” Billwernet. Bill Wernet Realty LLC, 2007.

https://billwernet.com/granville-parks/

The source supports the thesis to my paper. The purpose of the website is to Advertise the nature and environment of granville in 2007. The writer expresses the beauty of nature reserves, and the importance that has on Granvillians. “It contains approximately 43 acres of land dedicated by a retired Granville High School librarian, Fanchion Lewis, for walking in an area of great natural beauty. It has a number of ponds and trails (Parks).” Preservation is an effective technique of saving the environment. Maybe I can use preservation and connect it to a technique of beauty.

Class mate sources

Burchard, D, and D. Michell. Denison University, Granville Ohio. 1938, David Rumsey Historical Map Collection. https://www.davidrumsey.com/luna/servlet/detail/RUMSEY~8~1~292113~90063958:Denison-University,-Granville-Ohio

This source is a supporting record of the town of Granville, Ohio on the year 1938. The map shows the layout of the town and the points of interest about it around its edges. While there are no quotes from the map, attention will be drawn to the fact that the layout of the town in the 80+ years since its making has not changed, and that the landmarks can all still be seen around the town exactly as they appear on the map. The map will continue to deepen my analysis because I can show that Granville truly is adverse to change as there has been no change to the downtown area in the 80 years since the maps making, and from there can talk about the people of Granville.

Gilley, Ann, et al. “The University Immune System: Overcoming Resistance to Change.” Contemporary Issues in Education Research, vol. 2, no. 3, Jan. 2009, pp. 1–6. EBSCOhost, proxy.lib.ohio-state.edu/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=eric&AN=EJ1056934&site=ehost-live.

This supporting source is a peer reviewed research article that covers the resistance to change in universities and what can be done to move past that resistance. The main argument of this argument is that humans are adverse to change, and will do anything to avoid it but there are ways to move past that for the good of a university. A quote I will use to support my thesis is “People are inherently resistant to change; thus, avoiding or resisting change is human nature. Reasons for resistance to change are numerous, including one’s predisposition toward change, fear of the unknown…” (Page 2). As it may seem from that quote I will be using the first half of what this article is covering to support my thesis as the ways to move past a fear of change is not my topic. This will help my analysis because I can delve further into the psychology that makes Granville the stagnant, unchanging place it is.

The effects of maintaining an appealing appearance

Granville is a small town founded in 1805 (HistoricHomes). It occupies only 4.71mil^2 and has a small population of only 5,773 (DataUSA). Although small, Granvilles average income is very high sitting at over 92,000 dollars (DataUSA). Granville has a lack of large restaurant operations. Some of the few large restaurant chains that are present in Granville include 1 Subway, 1 Wendy’s, and 1 Donatos. The change in infrastructure is low. A map of Granville Seen in Denison University depicts the town of Granville in the year 1938. Many of the prehistoric structures shown on the map still remain today in the exact spot shown on the map (David). When looking at the financial department of Granville, the obvious conclusion made is the amount of expenses going towards non-profit recreational activities. Funds include the Opera House Park improvement, Bryn Du mansion, Pathway reserve, parkland reserve, and Municipal Building reserve fund. A total budget of $385,794.00 goes towards these funds on average each year (Finance). The Municipal Building reserve fund had a budget of $120,037.00 (Finance). The purpose of this fund is to have set balance of revenue saved for future renovations for the Town Hall (Finance). Granvilles effort in maintaining the appearance of a unique look is very prominent in the structures that remain in downtown Granville today. Why does Granville place such importance on the appearance of its current stature? The importance of Granvilles appearance is an entrance into a variety of techniques that have a great effect on individuals outside of a Granvillian lifestyle.

The importance that Granville places on its stature can reflect on what its means to be a Granvillian. Taking a closer look at their parks can be an easy way to determine the importance of maintaining a unique appearance. One park in particular comes to mind when I think of a Granvillian; The Opera House Park. At first glance of the park, an outsider would assume it to be an open lot. A closer look at the park transforms it into a message of improvement. Flowers and trees blow in the wind as the cars pass by. Families are often seen having picnics surrounded by honeybees as they pollinate the plants. A moss covered bell lies in the grass with the name Opera House Park. The Opera House Park is dedicated to the great fire of the old Opera House in 1982 (GranvilleHistory). The bell represent much more than a memorial for the Opera House. The bell, flowers, and trees represents the overwhelming message of “growth”. Granville built the park as a way of pushing Granvillians forward from the past. The parks size is made small to represent a message that all Granvillians follow. Persist past our mistakes and focus on improvement made for the future. The Granville Opera House depicts a wide variety of messages through it’s symbolism. The first thing that an individual notices is the old bell laying in the grass. On the bottom of the bell lies a small layer of moss. In the center of the bell a large crack. The bell is small in compared to the catastrophic event that occured. Granville did this on purpose in an attempt to symbolize that Granvillians favor the safety of the future over the past events. The crack in the bell symbolizes the preservation of the idea. That at once Granville was broken, and the community should always look back at the mistakes that we made. The second thing that an individual will notice is the type of people visiting the park. Picnics with families enjoying food and the company of their relatives. You hear laughter from the kids as they play through the grass. This depicts how All Granvillians operate as one unit. It could also stand for the focus of Granvilles necessity of having children. The nature that surrounds the park provides a message for the community of Granville. Every year the community replants new flowers in the park. A small thin layer of moss lies on the bottom of the tree trunks. In this a person can depict that a Granvillian represents the strive for growth. In which every person should provide and nourish the community.

When taking a closer look at the buildings of Granville, one will realize that they can see more than a message, they can see a purpose. The age of houses in Granville are relatively older and do not follow the current trends of modern houses. Houses covered in old moss and plates on the front porches seems to be common trend that Granville has to offer. Granville maintains a posture that is rural and festive. This unique look is what makes Granville pop from other towns. The old candy shop next to subway that allows the mind to relax. The attraction of Granville has been spurring in the last decade. In writer in the Granville advocate speaks about the inspired artists upcoming in the show impression of Granville and states “Granville’s historic ambiance is admired by many who live outside the community, including artists. Gahanna painter Anastasia Horowitz’s attraction to Granville resulted in her exhibiting in last year’s show” (Impressions). Artists are seen adoring the unique look that Granville has to offer. Although Granville is depicted as a festive historic ambiance is, is Granville attempting to preserve the history of Granville for a reason? Looking at the average age of Granville, one will find that most of the buildings were built before and after WW2. In the Granvilles Bicentennial, building age range can be seen from 1800 and 1900. Most of the buildings remain in the same spot today in perfect condition. Buildings such as Bryn Du mansion, which was built in 1865 by Henry D. is still being renovated and used today (HistoricHomes). When looking back on the average income of a Granvillian civilian, the amount is far higher than the average income in Ohio. A further connection can be made from the correlation of Granvilles old style with civilians with higher wages. When looking at today’s economy the age and current state of an object can have an effect on the rarity and cost. Granville attracts a richer taste based off of simple economic trick. While maintaining the age that many Granville houses have to offer, The price rises in which only few can take part in. However aside from the price of these houses, the houses age creates a rare phasad in which attracts richer folks. A study on Business insider shares commonly bought items from 2016. While some of these items included flashy cars and watches, the majority came from things such as old stamps, old preserved wine, and rare paintings (BuisnessInsider). The majority of those included irreplaceable items that cannot be replicated. I believe this to be the same case in Granville. Since the age of the buildings in Granville are relatively older, Richer individuals flock to these buildings in attempts of gaining rare living style. When taking a closer look at the unique style of living that Granville has to offer, one can perceive that Granville maintains it as a purpose of attracting higher paid individuals.

It is known that Granville uses its appearance as a technique of displaying a message and manipulating the type of people that live there, other places around the world are using the same technique. It is widely known throughout culture that a strive for a style of uniqueness is hard to maintain on an everyday basis. With new locations changing everyday, only few locations are able to comprise a preservation environment in attempts of displaying their culture. After rethinking the idea of preservation of appearance, maybe preservation of appearance can be seen in other things such as attractions. One attraction that comes to mind is the Tim Linhart ice music. Tim Linhart is a man who has derived a new culture of music. His band makes instruments out of ice and performs in a cold environment. The way that the ice is able to reflect off the colorful lights creates a mystical feeling. The ice dome that surrounds the audience creates a protective atmosphere away from the outside struggles. This band is using preservation as a way of bringing together a new group of people who enjoy its unique sound and design. While maintaining the appearance of it’s ice, the ice music band is able to create a new style of music. In a video created by national geographics Tim Linhart states “the ice instrument is made frozen water were made of melted water, and that physical connection opens a door for a spiritual connection (NationalGeographic)”. His uses the ice as a way of expressing the importance of preservation. Without the preservation of the ice people would never get to experience the true nature of ice music. Some complications that occur in maintaining a new culture of music occurs within the structure of the concert. Tim Linhart states “the ice is always sublimating away into the atmosphere, as they play the instruments heat is transferred into the ice (NationalGeographic)”. He also states “He realized that he needs to build his own architecture that can ventilate the heat away from the audience away from the orchestra (NationalGeographic)”. The preservation of the ice is a struggle and takes science in order to maintain its appearance. Maybe the importance of appearance is just at important as the sound that comes out of it. The unique sounds that the ice instrument creates allows the audience to forget the extremely cold temperature that surrounds them.

The importance of appearance is widely discussed phenomenon in today’s society. A simple appealing look can make or break a persons liking of its given topic. When choosing a location for your family to live, the number one question is whether it’s appealing to you. While sound and smell are aspects, the most prominent deciding factor is the appealing sight that a place gives you. Just like a fish, humans are attracted to unique variety of appearances. Some enjoy a plane habitat while others enjoy a exciting habitat. Using this people are able to create a technique of luers in order to shift the current of revenue. Just recently in 2018 Granville passed an income tax that goes directly to schools. The income tax is 1.25 % tax on the your houses total value (Tax).  For some that have smaller houses, that tax has no impact on the user. But for most Granville citizens who own a house on average $323,400.00, it becomes a big deal (Tax). Teachers are now benefiting off the average higher wage citizens of Granville. Indirectly the amount appealing buildings that comprise of Granville were reasons why richer individuals moved to Granville. Without its appealing appearance Granville would not be able to tax as much as they do, as a result Granville would not be a successful town like today.

While appearance is a important feature in Granville, evidence shows that some aspects are promoting the opposite. Appearance is how a person perceives a given object or place. Rather than looking at the physical aspects of Granville, bad views come from individuals outside of Granville. Recently in april of 2016 lead was found in the water of Granville schools. The reason was not stated but a conclusion was made that some fountains collected more lead when sitting still (LeadFountains). As a student of Granville I spent most of my time hanging out in the gym. I consumed the drinking fountain water on a daily basis. To hear that my school contained led in the drinking fountains concerned me deeply. When a person gives trust to an individual, that person should keep that promise and never put that person in harm’s way. My view had changed from that day forward. I was scared to take anything from the school; food, water, and even vending machines food. The amount of trust had faded and turned into a survival of the fittest. The appearance of Granville was shifted into hatred from the irresponsibility of its staff. During the week the school also included that fountains that were built before and during the 1990 would have to be replaced (LeadFountains). The school didn’t have the common decency of building new fountains. This entire event changed the appearance of Granville forever. The lack of trust the students had for the school and staff had faded. It will be long struggle to gain that trust back.

The appealing appearance of Granville is a prominent aspect that brings in people from around the world. So what, maybe Granville was attempting to display a message. So what, was this message negatively displayed. So what, maybe Granville was using the appearance as a technique of bringing in richer people. So what, maybe they did this to make programs effective. So what, tax income is generating more wealth. So what, other places around the world are using appearance as well. So what Granville is among a pattern of communities using this same technique.

Work Cited

Burchard, D, and D. Michell. Denison University, Granville Ohio. 1938, David Rumsey Historical Map Collection. https://www.davidrumsey.com/luna/servlet/detail/RUMSEY~8~1~292113~90063958:Denison-University,-Granville-Ohio

McDonald, Craig. “Granville Schools Weigh 2018 Tax Options.” The Advocate, Oct 02, 2017. ProQuest, http://proxy.lib.ohio-state.edu/login?url=https://search-proquest-com.proxy.lib.ohio-state.edu/docview/1947681767?accountid=9783.

Miller, Brian. “Granville Impressions.” The Advocate, Sep 24, 2006. ProQuest, http://proxy.lib.ohio-state.edu/login?url=https://search-proquest-com.proxy.lib.ohio-state.edu/docview/441950752?accountid=9783.

McDonald, Craig. “Granville School Plan Targets Lead in Fountains.” The Advocate, Apr 27, 2016. ProQuest, http://proxy.lib.ohio-state.edu/login?url=https://search-proquest-com.proxy.lib.ohio-state.edu/docview/1784561794?accountid=9783.

“Granville, OH.” Data USA, https://datausa.io/profile/geo/granville-oh/#intro

“Finance Department.” Village of Granville, March 21, 2019. www.granville.oh.us/finance-department.

“Historic Homes of Granville.” Granville Bicentennial, 1805-2005.

http://static1.1.sqspcdn.com/static/f/321834/4687650/1257632825507/historic_home_inventory.pdf?token=Mu2xqwcf1iRY3DZYCNYLZrzbM7c=

Smith, Matthew Nitch. “These Are the 11 Things the ‘Ultra-Rich’ Are Spending Their Money On.” Business Insider, Business Insider, 2 Mar, 2016. https://www.businessinsider.com/things-rich-people-are-buying-more-of-in-last-ten-years-2016-3#wine–the-ultra-rich-not-only-enjoy-drinking-the-best-wine-in-the-world-they-also-like-to-invest-in-it-the-index-showed-a-241-price-jump-in-wine-spending-over-the-last-decade-the-report-notes-that-many-investment-grade-bordeaux-wines-have-now-started-to-recover-from-the-slump-induced-by-the-sharp-drop-in-chinese-demand-2

Geographic, National. YouTube, YouTube, 3 Feb, 2017. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YL-8zxvuuyE

One repetition that I found on the cover of the “The Method” was the deteriorated paint on the houses. Another repetition was the broken windows. Another aspect that I noticed was the shingles were ripped off. So what? maybe the houses are old. So what? The worn paint would be a good example of an old house. So what? The shingles were ripped off so maybe something specific happened to them. So what? A storm could have ripped off the shingles. So what? The glass was broken and boarded up so maybe the storm destroyed those too. So what? the bricks seem fairly new so maybe the houses aren’t very old at all.

In the reading “Notes of A Native Daughter” the author Sandra Cisneros repeats many aspects, but one thing that I found in particular is the concept of love for her old town. the first strand that I found was in the lines “I always feel a chest-swelling when I drive along the lake”. So what? the author was trying to throw in small word such as chest-swelling to show that the author cared for her old home. So what? maybe she still hadn’t obtained true happiness because of her love of her old town. Another example that I found was in the line “but I have to thank, Chicago, for my education”. So what? shows that even though the hatred toward her old home town is strong, she still holds love for it in a unique way. So what? She obtained memories exist even after she obtained happiness.