A fence blocked free access to the park, so I stood with my fingers holding the chain links and looked at the scene before me. My heart hurt for multiple reasons as I stood under gray clouds in the cold. The disarray was everywhere. Garbage, stacks of boards, overgrown grass and bushes. Stairs had fallen over and paint was faded. The swings were rusting and sun bleached. The hardest to look at were the empty pools where you could still see the once lovely blue tiles.
Restoration was needed. Sun was essential to light up all the dark places of this park. The pools must be filled again. The children had to come back and run free in this place meant for joy. They needed to swim in rejuvenating waters once more. Laughter had to find its way back to this seemingly forgotten place.
It was time to go and I took one final look at all that was needed. It seemed impossible and only one word would do. Restoration….for that place and for all the seemingly forgotten places.