Roger Williams Park remembered- for me the next stop is Willoughby

Growing up in the Washington Park neighborhood of Providence in the 50s-60s Roger Williams Park was my own back yard. Just last Sunday in the enchanting Stillwater Antique Center in Greenville I observed a collection of nostalgia arousing ( dated 50s-60s) old Roger Williams Park postcards. I purchased 5 of them. One of them the garden designed in the shape of a waving American flag and spelling out " Long May It Wave ". That view went the way of the less politically correct Ten Commandments monument. A postcard of the Boat House when those more romantic row boats could be rented for hours on a hot summer day. The Betsy Williams Cottage covered with green leaves . The long gone Seal House. The Rose Garden-which attracted thousands of visitors every year, said the small print. A more glittering white Temple of Music - a good place to browse my Ancient Latin text, I imagined.
Forward a few decades later. I still like to take walks around the lakes on the walk path, especially in the Fall . But Roger Williams Park is now clearly blighted. Assorted -unpleasant to look at - smelly garbage and soiled baby diapers -and Dunkin Donuts cups- and broken beer bottles- and sordid used condoms strewn on my still sun kissed walk path.
The Old Neighborhood is also blighted , " strange ", and unwelcoming. The Old Family House is barely recognizable. But there is hope for walking distance Roger Williams Park. A few million dollars can revitalize it- create happy ,delicious future memories for today's 12 year olds attending Broad Street ( no, is it now Feinstein something ? ) School. And more pleasant long walks for obsolete souls .For me the next stop is Willoughby .

A Proustian memory of Roger Williams Park . For me the next stop is Willoughby .