West Haven Park

Adrienne Arnaut

Ms. Noha Kabaji

English 100/11181

Essay 1-Observation

August 27, 2004

West Haven Park is a great place to go and relax, play or just kill some time.  There are many toys to play with so it’s a great place to make some memories with your children if one was so inclined.  It was bright and warm with a looming humidity that would not surrender.  The high noon sun tingled my skin but the sky, blue and white, carried a soothing breeze.  My daughter and I occasionally visited West Haven Park, (usually when the walls in our house began to close in on us).  As we approached the rounded plastic playground, Madilyn picked up speed and made a mad dash to the sun scorched sand.  I quickly grabbed her and made camp and the nearest shady refuge I could find.  I noticed some unsavory litter and felt obligated for the safety of my daughter to pick it up.

There was a little Hispanic girl with a big red ball.  Her parents were off about 10 yards, eating lunch and talking amongst themselves, paying little mind to their child’s whereabouts.  On the other side of the playground was a younger white woman with her two children around Madilyn’s age, 1½ years old.  A little boy and slightly older girl were competing for their mother’s attention on the shaking bridge.  They pushed and shoved each other in an attempt for supremacy over the other child.  It reminded me of my own brothers and my sibling rivalry. 

To the left of us where five swings squeaking and lightly swinging in the breeze.  To the right of us where three toddler safety swings occupied by two chubby children who were apprehensively being swung by their dad.  Off in the distance I saw a skateboarder eat pavement in the corner of my eye.  I quickly glanced to see if the person was ok.  He jumped up looking more embarrassed than hurt and nervously skated away.

Madilyn had spent the better part of the last 15 minutes trying to climb up the bottom of the tall, spiral slide but to no avail.  So I warily took her to the top so we could slide down together.  On the slides perch I had a birds eye view of the whole park and onto the street.  In the distance I could see a homeless man resting his worn body under the shade of the large Willow tree, his shopping cart of tattered treasures closely in his reach.  The sound of the cars whizzing by the park and the smell of exhaust was inescapable and I was almost witness to a collision.  Beneath us I heard the cries of a child who had fallen down and the comforting words of his mother. 

Laughter and gayety was all that could be heard from the far corner of the grassy field where children were playing.  This was a great distraction for Madilyn as she forgot about wanting to temp the fates on the slide, and darted toward the nearby children.  With her diaper bulging and her steps clumsy and unsure, she made her way through the freshly cut grass all to have her sights redirected by a passing piece of paper.  I removed it from her vice grip and threw it away much to her dismay. 

A mother instantly knows the meaning of her children’s cries and this one told me is was naptime.  There were quite a few other children howling the same cry.  A glance at my watch confirmed my suspicion, as it was 1:30 p.m.  As I walked away, my arms full, I heard the sounds of the playground slowly fade into obscurity.  West Haven Park was now only a vague reflection in my rear view mirror. 

There were many things to have been observed that day at the park.  Sights, sounds, smells, and feelings that varied greatly were all to be found.  Overall, I feel the time we spent there was pleasant and memorable, even a little embarrassing with the way she carried on.  I noticed things I would have normally paid no mind to, I’m glad that I did and plan to be more observant in the future.