Before visiting the Sunset Park community I drove by, a few days prior, around 3rd avenue. My initial reaction was frightening I did not see many people and the area didn’t seem safe. Therefore, I wasn’t too enthusiastic when it came to actually visiting and exploring the area.
When exiting the R train on 53rd street and 4th avenue, the area gave me the same impression. I saw older Spanish people and small older shops such as the dollar stores and delis. I wondered around for a bit orienting myself before proceeding up to 5th avenue. On my way, I noticed an old-fashioned blue taxi car parked on the street and some skillfully spray painted street art. Street art seemed to be fairly common there since I saw some on the precious day, near a schoolyard and once again later on. I also noticed a police camera which furthered my conception that the neighborhood isn’t very safe.
Once I reached 5th avenue and 51st street, I was pleasantly surprised however. The area was highly populated and commercial businesses lined the streets. I was reminded of bay ridge. The population was mainly Spanish and I felt a strong sense of community. There were a few bouquets of flowers that seemed to be for sale, yet there was nobody there selling them. It was just natural that nobody took them. Furthermore, there was catchy Spanish music playing loudly and nobody seemed to complain or find it unusual. The shops were both general such as phone stores, and older community accustomed ones along with some newly build ones. In addition, I noticed some community based drawing on the store windows, such as special tributes that were drawn in the same style probably by the same artist.
Next, I proceeded to sunset park itself. There, children were enjoying their time sledding in the icy snow. Everyone seemed friendly and were interacting with each other. Looking around, I was flabbergasted by the view . Since the park was on an incline I was able to see the city buildings along with a church that stuck out the most. Next, I noticed a dog poop disposal which to me seemed modern. Lastly, I noticed, before exiting the park that the sign describing the park had Chinese and Polish translations. This seemed to reflect the population that lives there even though, I did not encounter or expect polish people to reside there.
Lastly I ventured down to 50th street and 6th avenue. There the shops became less Spanish and more Chinese. I also did not see any graffiti there. It was less populated again yet there we’re still some community places such as the small barber shop.
Overall the housing was both renovated and older. There were vacant houses among the older ones along with some occasionally newer ones. There were many ways that people made use of the community. There was a Chinese laundromat, public school, library(which was closed because it was a Sunday), public park and many shopping and dinning areas.
