In its 12 years, the loosely organized Kent South End Friends of the Village solidified into Kent South End, headed by neighborhood resident Doria Daniels. Participants and supporters met April 22 at Kent’s American Legion for a dinner, fellowship and celebration of the Thomas-Anderson Memorial Garden, located on Walnut Street.
Whatever name people know it by, the group has amassed an impressive resume. Besides recording data of the South End’s 180-year history, its members have realized their vision of enhancing the historic South End through partnerships with a number of local organizations:
- Kent Environmental Council assisted in the design of the Thomas-Anderson Memorial Garden, which addresses food insecurity while adhering to environmentally friendly growing practices. The garden provides food for the neighborhood and Kent Social Services.
- Hometown Foundation renovated the century-old Gugolz Brothers South End Market building on Franklin Avenue. Hometown Bank Chairman Howard Boyle said the building should be ready to welcome a new small business “in a couple months.” It is one of many properties the foundation hopes to rehab in hopes of improving the South End, he said.
- The city of Kent’s Health Department holds fairs that address community health issues. Kent Health Commissioner Joan Seidel believes “prevention is better than cure.” The next health fair is set for June 21 and is open to anyone in the city, not just South End residents.
- The Kent Juneteenth Committee holds an annual Juneteenth Jubilee, which commemorates Black heritage. This year’s Juneteenth celebration will take place June 15 at Plum Creek Park.
- The South End Block Party Team hosts an annual South End Neighborhood Block Party, which fosters fellowship with the multicultural community. This year’s block party, set for June 28 at Plum Creek Park, will feature kid-friendly activities, music courtesy of South End DJ Harry Dukes, at least one food truck and a bike parade.
- Portage County Master Gardeners, a sub-group of OSU Extension-Portage County, maintains the three Historic South End monuments that call attention to the neighborhood’s historic distinction. Its boundaries span from Mogadore Road to Summit Street, and extend to Franklin Avenue, South Water Street and Cherry Street.
The South End Friends of the Village Committee’s reputation for getting things done was recognized when The Battleground restaurant approached Daniels to engage in a tree enhancement project for the neighborhood and a new IPA launch, both sponsored by the Davey Tree Expert Co.
Daniels created a subcommittee to expand the tree enhancement project with an educational segment at Holden Elementary School and a tree planting segment involving the city of Kent and Davey Tree, both of which supplied arborists who used the city’s GIS technology to map trees throughout the South End.
Partnering with Davey Tree, Battleground and OSU Extension-Portage County, the educational component blossomed into a pilot program for Holden’s fourth and fifth graders. The committee hopes the pilot project will stand as a model for other Kent neighborhood associations and school districts.
Wendy DiAlesandro is a former Record Publishing Co. reporter and contributing writer for The Portager.