DWilliams_SpringfieldMA by Dawn Williams

Baystate Hospital

dawnydw — 2024-07-29 01:30:05 UTC

Right across the street from my home is one, if not the busiest hospital in the area. That being Baystate Hospital. On my walk around there you heard the occasional ambulance sirens. Walking around the facility people are few and far between. You see medical staff walking around either on their break or heading in and out of work. Small group of people entering here, assumbly to see someone. People are pretty hush around here. Outside of the sirens you hear cars driving by and the ac and electrical units running outside of the building. Around here you can smell all the flora that was planted to make the place look more lively. Near the ER entrance there are heart monitor senors stuck to walls and pavement. This is indication of the health of the community. The hub to help and treat those in need with these sensors being an indication to healthier lives.

Chapin Terrace

dawnydw — 2024-07-29 01:36:44 UTC

In the middle of my neighborhood there is the terrace. Patches of grass separating the two sides of the road. Here you will sometimes see cars up on the terrace. This is normally an indication that someone is hosting some type of party. On other days it clear and nothing, but the grass, tree, and occasional animal lives on it. I point out the terrace since it acts as a symbol of our communities' health. If the terrace is intact and thriving, our community is alive and healthy to take care of it and use it for local events.

Ronald Mcdonald House

dawnydw — 2024-07-29 01:41:47 UTC

Growing up I thought this building was used for foster care. As I got older I found out that it acted as a temporary home for parents who's children are going under longer and more intensive treatment at the hospital. Even though its there its always nice to see the parking lot empty. It's nice knowing when the community is health.

Funeral Home

dawnydw — 2024-07-29 02:19:11 UTC

At the top of my street there is a funeral home. It can be pretty quiet there except the buzzing coming from the building. The parking lot and grass are clean there almost seeming like respect for those that have passed. Occasionally the parking lot fills up for a funeral. Place showing the end result of declining health.

Liquor Store

dawnydw — 2024-07-29 02:25:05 UTC

Away from all the medical building there are a couple of liquor stores. Each with its own amount of broken bottles in front of it. They cater to the locals or to those who are in need of relief from the woes of the hospital. Around them people tend to more social, some are probably a little inebriated from some alcohol or other source. When I walked past the liquor store, people crowded in small groups. A small walk down liquor store was a man who in his stumper froze completely still. I could tell he was inebriated, possibly specifically fentanyl. Believe it or not, Springfield has a very bad fentanyl problem, and the closer to our hospital and our liquor stores the more often it is to find more victims of addiction.

Van Horn Park

dawnydw — 2024-07-29 02:28:42 UTC

In the other direction from the liquor store is Van Horn park. Here they have tennis and basketball courts, exercise equipment, open green fields, and a small water park. In general this acts a good recreational spot for the community especially with the shrinking yards in the area.

Map of the area

dawnydw — 2024-07-29 02:57:42 UTC