My Grandma Would Have Loved the Pretty New Park in Waterbury

I love seeing a part of your world featured on multiple major news sources, in a good light. Have you ever had a news crew or reporter set up in front of your residence or workplace before? Filming in front of where you live or a place that is special to you?

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I had that feeling today, when every major news source here in Connecticut reported the story about the new park in the Brooklyn neighborhood in Waterbury. Channel 3, Channel 8, Republican American, Waterbury Mayor Neil O'Leary himself, and many others spread the great news about the pretty new park at 909 Bank Street. You can read any of their stories if you want to know more information about the park itself. What struck close to home for me was the video footage from the scene, because it reminded me of my grandma so much.

Right across Bank street from the new park is 344 Washington Ave. It's known as The DeRienzo and it's an apartment building. It was my great-grandpa's, and my grandma grew up there. I can't tell you how many times I drove my grandma past that building on our way to Pathmark to go to mass at St. Patrick or Everybody's, and she would make me stop to take a look up at her maiden name, which used to be in the bricks.

My grandma used to complain about the condition of the neighborhood, which steadily deteriorated through the 70's, 80's, and 90's. She passed away just before the city started the massive renovation of Duggan School. Waterbury has invested millions of dollars into Brooklyn since, and I think my grandma would have loved the gorgeous new park that sits across from her childhood home. Nice job everyone.