A change is going to come, just hope it’s a good one

Published 10:13 am Friday, October 19, 2018

Whenever life, society or a community start to change and evolve, I always hear Sam Cooke in my head singing to “A change is going to come.”

“It’s been a long time, a long time coming, but I know a change is going to come, oh yes it will.”

Last week marked a few changes in the community one of which was a new Performance Park unveiled at a ribbon cutting downtown last Wednesday.

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The ribbon cutting was a great event for the community. I have not been in Jessamine County long, so I do not remember what the downtown area was like years ago before the city took on the downtown project spoken about in last week’s ceremony.

I have heard mixed feelings about it in the community by some who say it ruined the downtown area.

Like many residents who gathered, I have high hopes the new park can bring great things to the community.

Although, in all honesty, if asked what I thought of the new space the city officials said they paid for with grant money from the state, I fear the absolute worst.

Situated in a hole in the middle of downtown, the only thing brought to light while I attended the event were the two bars that sandwiched in the little L shaped area town officials were so hopeful could be a bright spot in the community.

I am assuming, although it was never fully addressed, this park is intended to be used for performances by local theater groups. Maybe it’s my West Coast upbringing, or my view into what usually conspires after the new and exciting haze of infatuation wears off in any circumstance, but I see the Performance Park as a huge issue for the future residents of the county.

In a community where drugs are running rampant, the worst thing you could sandwich between two bars downtown is a little dark hole in the ground that has the possibility to breed havoc and potentially nothing but bad circumstances after the sun sets.

I hope the new area does bring to the community what the officials obviously are so hopeful for, although can’t help that little thing called intuition that says I really don’t think it will be used for what they believe it will be used for as time wears on and the infatuation with the new space fades.

Like Sam Cooke sings about in his song, I worry what the officials built as a place to help the community have a nice spot to gather for performance events, will only one day knock this community back down on its knees by providing a place for drug addicts and othersto hang out in the wee dark hours of the morning.

Nothing good I have ever seen comes out of dark alleyways.

In the light of day, all things can seem alright. Late at night, after the light of day fades, even the things in life with the best intentions can turn on you if not watched carefully.

My hope is the Performance Park is used for what it is intended for, and if not, I hope the community is well equipped and ready to guard itself against the worst. 

A change is going to come, I just hope it’s a good one.

Brittany Fuller is the community editor of The Jessamine Journal and Jessamine Life magazine. She can be reached at brittany.fuller@jessaminejournal.com.