Stop #5: The Playground

At the very back of the elementary school, you will find a playground and an asphalt area covered with different exercise activities. These activities were set up for the students to partake in during gym class, but during COVID they took on a whole new meaning for me. Like most of America and the world, I felt very isolated during the peak of the COVID pandemic. I was at home every day and only got to see my parents and some friends over Facetime. While we all did our best to stay entertained, it was difficult for boredom not to set in. One of the main activities we did to get some time outside was to go on walks. And one of the most common walks my family and I went on was the exact loop I am taking you on now. When we would get to this stop, we would often go along the route and do all of the exercises, making fun of each other for our lack of balance or general ineptitude for the workouts. It was one of the best memories I had during COVID and really made my family and me closer. Interestingly, it was my mom who was the lead on doing these walks and making us do these cute little exercises. This is very similar to the Lenape who previously lived here, whose tribe was matriarchal and emphasized the importance of female leadership, or Takachsin.