by Cindy Tirrell
“We didn't realize we were making memories, we just knew we were having fun.”
Winnie the Pooh
When I was a little girl, my family drove up from the shore to visit my grandparents every Sunday. Each summer, I escaped my four rowdy siblings and stayed with my grandparents for a week, all by myself! Having the undivided love and attention of my grandparents was like the sun shining just for me. A highlight of those visits was trips to Brookdale Park with my Papa. Grandma and Great-grandma went to bingo every Thursday. On those evenings, Papa and I would load folding chairs into his Chrysler Newport and head to a free concert in Brookdale Park.
Papa was a semi-pro band musician. He loved those concerts for the music; I loved them for time alone with him. The summer sky, the drifting tunes, the majestic trees…it was heavenly. It was the mid to late 1970s so there weren’t any food or ice cream trucks. No one had a spread of snacks or charcuterie there in the park. Just blankets, maybe chairs, and a simple good time.
So much in life has changed, but the park hasn't - it is still making memories every day.
I took a walk recently to see who was out in Brookdale Park. Carol, a painter, walks the “short loop” of the park every day. Sometimes a short rest on a bench extends her walk and provides inspiration for her watercolor paintings. Carol has not only made memories in the park, but also memorialized it in her art.
“Ginkgo in the Headlights"
Carol Martancik
If you are in the park early, you’ll likely pass this lively group of walkers. Monday through Friday, week after week, for more than 20 years, Barbara, Brenda, Adriana, and Pauline have walked together. The oldest member is 92! They talk about their families, their weight loss journeys, and walkers who have passed away or moved. On the day I saw them, they were greeting dogs by name as they passed by.
Not all of the park’s walkers are on two legs. Jace walks Joey and Bishop, his friendly, black, mixed breed rescue dogs. They live a few blocks away and visit the park as often as they can. All three of them make memories by befriending other dogs and seeing the changes the seasons bring.
As I headed to the Rose Garden, I came upon a music class for toddlers. It was so sweet to watch the toddlers dancing as the leader sang songs. Some of the little ones held hands and greeted their friends as they arrived. A dad shared that this group is something his child looks forward to every week, singing the songs as they drive to the park. He values the outdoor time with his daughter, without electronic devices. He notices an improved mood in his daughter after spending this time in nature.
Joyce and Bo Foley raised their family in the area, living here over 30 years. They have fond park memories of attending concerts, watching sports, and walking their dogs. Once their children were grown, Joyce had more time to walk in the park and she often saw volunteers from the Brookdale Park Conservancy in action. She was inspired to join and is now one of the hard working volunteers keeping our park beautiful. Bo soon joined and together they work on the Rose Garden and pruning teams. They take pride in the park and enjoy when passersby make positive comments. The knowledge gained by working with the conservancy has improved their overall confidence and home gardening skills. Now, they make “next generation” memories, as their kids have moved back to the area and are raising their grandchildren, ages 3 and 1, nearby.
Every day, Brookdale Park bears witness to moments that will live on as memories. For some, it is of countless hours spent at the playground, for others it is of laps walked on the track or up and down the fields. Prom-goers, quinceañeras, brides and grooms all dressed to the nines flock to take treasured photos in the Rose Garden. Sports teams come and go and friends meet up to walk and talk, all at our incredible park.
Our park memories live in our hearts for years to come—moments of joy, peace, comfort, and connection that link generations.
Do you have memories to share of Brookdale Park? Tag us on Instagram (brookdaleparkorg) or Facebook (Brookdale Park Conservancy).
Cindy is a Brookdale Park Conservancy member and a retired public school teacher of 33 years. Volunteering at Brookdale Park for the past year has “filled her bucket” in many ways- making new friends and memories, being a part of planning and completing park projects, increasing horticultural knowledge, and contributing to the good of our community in a very tangible way. She takes pride in the beauty of the park and the smiles from other volunteers as they experience seeing the difference they’ve made after a few hours of teamwork.
The Brookdale Park Conservancy is an all-volunteer group, funded by donations. Join us for fun, friends, and learning! Or make a donation to help us keep the park beautiful!