20th Anniversery of the Lyndale Walkers

Lyndale Neighborhood Association created several action committees, tasked with putting the neighborhood back on track.  One of those committees, rather ominously titled “Crime & Drug,” launched the much less ominous Lyndale Walkers in 1992. And in 1993 the Walkers signed up 50 Lyndaliennes to walk around the clock for seven days straight. With a kick-off barbecue at the Montrose’s “Cabra Shamrock” at 32nd & Pleasant, we were off to the races.

The idea is simple, that a positive presence by good neighbors will make the not- so-good neighbors think twice about committing crimes. And solving community problems is much easier when taking a walk – even the Romans had a saying – “Solvitur Ambulando” or if that’s Greek to you, try “It is solved by walking.”  Over the years many neighborhoods have given it a try. In Stevens Square, with the longest-running – er, walking block patrol in the city, they call their walking crime watch’s work “counter-loitering.” Seward has now and again had their Stroll Patrol, and Field-Regina-Northrop once rousted up a group of moms who dubbed themselves the Stroller Patrollers. And in Elliot Park, for some time the neighborhood was made safer by “Eyes on Elliot.”

We did a lot of walking and watching during that first Walk-A-Thon in 1993, because there was a lot to watch and walking was the best way to take it in. As each days’ shifts passed, we saw less and less loitering and found we didn’t even have to call 911 very often. I’ve done at least a half-dozen shifts at each and only called 911 four times. In the end we walked about 15 hours a day in 1993, and found that for as bad as things were back then, they were already on the way up.

With the recent news from Florida about a so-called “neighborhood watch volunteer,” it may be hard for some to admit to being part of a crime watch. But as we said then, “It’s not about “watching each other, but watching OUT for each other.” Or as the New York Times’ David Brooks put it, “A neighborhood watch is about eyes on the street, not fingers on the trigger.”

During our previous 19 Walk-A-Thons, we’ve never had even the inkling to lay hands on any crooks. In fact if you join us at the kick-off pot luck BBQ at 3:00 pm on April 29th, you’ll lay your hands on some good food and join hands with those leading the most proactive project of the Crime & Drug Committee. You may even see some neighbors you haven’t seen in a long time! We’ll be back at the point where it all started in April, 1993 – 32nd & Pleasant, just look for the yellow hats!