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East Side Neighbors Association

The East Side Neighbors Association, or ESNA, was first established in 2010 when community members began to notice drug and money exchanges at Biddle Mission Park ((Elizabeth Gibson. “Carlisle neighborhood groups help drive town’s serious crime rate to lowest point since 2005.” PennLive.com. April 19, 2012. Accessed April 18, 2017. http://www.pennlive.com/midstate/index.ssf/2012/04/carlisle_neighborhood_groups_h.html)). The ESNA adopted Biddle Mission Park in 2010 with renovation plans to reduce crime and increase community use with support from many organizations around Carlisle including the Carlisle Sertoma Club and the Carlisle Parks and Recreation Department. The renovation plans were estimated to cost between $25,000 and $30,000 and included two new parking lots, a walking path, benches, new recreational equipment, and more ((Biddle Mission Park. Carlisle East Side Neighbors. April 16, 2011. Accessed April 18, 2017. https://eastsideneighbors.wordpress.com/biddle-mission-park/)). The Carlisle Borough Council approved the plans in February of 2010, and the Downtown Carlisle Association agreed to be the fiscal sponsor so that no tax dollars would be used ((“Carlisle council approves Biddle Mission Park plans.” The Sentinel. February 11, 2010. Accessed April 18, 2017. http://cumberlink.com/news/local/article_6917f9b3-9a83-5151-9452-ec2947d1bf81.html.)). Biddle Mission Park received $19,000 in federal Community Development Block Grant, administered by the Cumberland County Redevelopment Authority, as well as construction materials donated by the borough of Carlisle to help finance the new additions to the park ((Stacy Brown. “Biddle Mission Park makeover continues.” The Sentinel. January 07, 2013. Accessed April 18, 2017. http://cumberlink.com/news/local/biddle-mission-park-makeover-continues/article_a003d94c-0516-11e2-9a3f-0019bb2963f4.html.)). 

In conjunction with other organizations in Carlisle, the ESNA held fundraising events to raise the rest of the estimated costs for the renovation at Biddle Mission Park. The Carlisle Area Sertoma Club and ESNA hosted a joint yard sale and community day in June 2010 to fundraise and hold a groundbreaking ceremony for the renovation ((Greg Gross. “Events planned to support park project.” The Sentinel. June 15, 2010. Accessed April 18, 2017. http://cumberlink.com/news/local/article_672d3766-786f-11df-b03e-001cc4c03286.html.)). Over 15 vendors attended the yard sale, and Giant Foods donated benches made of recycled material for the park as well as a $100 gift card to buy food for the fundraising events.

The renovation project, named Park Access to Health (PATH), began in the spring of 2011 with the help of the Carlisle Public Works Department ((Greg Gross. “Biddle Mission Park improvements slated to begin in spring.” The Sentinel. November 29, 2010. Accessed April 18, 2017. http://cumberlink.com/news/local/article_3bea938c-fbb4-11df-b988-001cc4c03286.html.)). Currently, Biddle Mission Park boasts a new walking path, updated playground, exercise stations, basketball court, and more. The ESNA and Carlisle Sertoma Club are working together again to install a labyrinth in Biddle Mission Park to provide a spiritual space for the Carlisle community as well; the labyrinth is expected to be fully constructed in spring 2017 ((Tammie Gitt. “Staking out a spiritual escape in Biddle Mission Park.” The Sentinel. March 26, 2017. Accessed April 18, 2017. http://cumberlink.com/news/local/communities/carlisle/staking-out-a-spiritual-escape-in-biddle-mission-park/article_e747b934-7abf-5e4f-bab2-61c9caa36700.html.)).

The ESNA also works to keep downtown Carlisle safe. They specifically focus on the area of Carlisle that is east of Hanover Street ((“East Side Neighbors Association (E.S.N.A).” Carlisle Borough. Accessed April 18, 2017. https://www.carlislepa.org/departments/police/carlisle-borough-community-groups/east-side-neighbors-association-e-s-n-a/.)). Their monthly meetings are held on the second Wednesday of every month in the basement of the Carlisle Alliance Church, located on 237 East North St.

Bosler Memorial Library

Bosler Memorial Library’s “Read and Return Program” was created to increase access to reading materials to the Carlisle community. With support from other organizations such as the Carlisle Arts Learning Center and Cumberland County Housing and Redevelopment Authority, this program established Bosler Free Libraries. Bosler Free Libraries are small boxes located in many places around the Carlisle community such as Biddle Mission Park, Hope Station, and Butcher Tot Lot aiming to increase literacy and access to books ((“Cumberland County Library System – PA’s Busiest Library System.” Bosler Free Libraries, a Read and Return Program | Cumberland County Library System – PA’s Busiest Library System. November 10, 2016. Accessed April 18, 2017. http://www.cumberlandcountylibraries.org/BOS_FreeLibraries.)). Citizens are free to take and return books at their leisure anytime.

All photos by Goeun Choi.