Dear New Neighbor,

Welcome to Forest Park! We read that you recently acquired property in our neighborhood and we wanted to share some local resources with you. We are enclosing a copy of the Forest Park Newsletter and a sheet that lists some neighborhood resources and family activities. We also want to share our enthusiasm for city living, especially in a neighborhood with as much to offer as Forest Park. We hope that you will enjoy your home for many years and that you will join the Forest Park Civic Association and participate in its activities.

Friday is trash collection day in Forest Park; trash shouldn’t be put out any earlier than Thursday evening, and empty containers must be taken in no later than sundown Friday night. This helps the neighborhood look better.

TRASH COLLECTORS DO NOT PICK UP TRASH IN CARDBOARD BOXES!!!!! They will also not pick up yard debris in plastic bags. They do check the bags to see what’s in them. It doesn’t matter if you keep the bag at the curb for weeks, they won’t pick it up. Put yard debris in trash barrels or large brown bags which can be purchased. Also, recyclables are collected every other week.

In a family neighborhood like ours, EDUCATION is a top concern. A booklet describing Springfield’s public schools is available from any public school, or from the Central Office at 195 State Street. We encourage all residents to get acquainted and involved with their local public school whether as a parent, a school volunteer, or a well-informed taxpayer. The public schools are everybody’s business.

You may discover that your sidewalk has cracked and broken over the years. The cost of sidewalk replacement is made affordable because it is shared between the City and property owner. We are enclosing a sidewalk replacement application that you may send in. While checking your sidewalk, you may find that your tree belt lacks a street tree. To get on the tree planting list, call the city Arborist at 787-6440. Street trees are provided free of charge to homeowners. (It may take awhile.)

Tell your children to hold onto trash until they get to4basket or home. We encourage you and your children to pick up litter when you go for a walk. If everyone does a little, we will have an even prettier neighborhood. Property owners are required to remove ice and snow from their sidewalks within 24 hours of a snowfall. It is ILLEGAL to park on front lawns and sidewalks and to make auto repairs on City streets.

Most houses in Forest Park were built over 50 years ago, and sometimes replacement parts and tradesmen are hard to find. The OLD HOUSE JOURNAL is a bi-monthly magazine full of advice for do-it-your sellers and professionals. Call for a sample copy at 508-283-3200.

You may REGISTER TO VOTE by mail. The city library should have copies of Motor Voter forms. Just fill it out and send it in; the election commission will let you know where you will vote. For further information call 787-6190.

We are also enclosing the GOOD NEIGHBOR HANDBOOK. This is an abbreviated guide to quality of life regulations in Springfield. Noise and dogs are particular annoyances it seems. Be courteous with your car and home stereos. We live close to each other and courtesy is extremely important.

You are welcome to attend our Community Police Sector H Beat Management Team meetings. They are held on the first Wednesday of each month at the Goodwill building on Dorset Street at 7 PM. The BMT is the forum of citizens and community police officers where problems are presented and solutions are proposed. Community policing works because citizens and police work together.

Everyone is concerned about HOME SECURITY. Keep your home and belongings safe by locking your garage, basement, and car at all times. Leave porch lights on all night. Consider installing yard lights and a security system. Most important—KNOW YOUR NEIGHBORS and watch out for each other.

Keep-an eye on strangers and don’t hesitate to call 911(police) if they seem to be casing an area. Be suspicious of able-bodied people carrying canes or (in the winter) bats or golf clubs. Go outside and do some casual chore so that they will know you see them. Genuine pedestrians and cyclists will be reassured; troublemakers will keep moving.

Again we welcome you to good, old-fashioned Forest Park. See you around the neighborhood!

Sincerely,

Sharon Marshall, Membership Director

Bill Malloy, President