Where is the Holiday Spirit of Huntington Park?

by Angelica Evangelista and Alex Morales

Halloween has just passed. Soon, it will be Thanksgiving and then Christmas. However, it seems like in our community, no one quite noticed. What happened to all the spirit? Has it all disappeared from Huntington Park? Throughout the years, the spirit of Halloween, thanksgiving, Christmas, or any holiday for that matter has gone down tremendously. Every year, there are fewer and fewer events and activities being held. No one has celebrated the same as previous years, and today it seems these holidays don’t even exist. So what happened? How did Huntington Park go from being a festive city to dark at night?

Some people may remember the events that used to be held in our city. During Halloween, there was the Haunted House at City Hall, Mad Pumpkin On Wheels Race, Dia De Los Muertos, and Fright Night in Salt Lake Park. The parks in our city used to be a place where people from the community could come together and enjoy the holidays. There were events and activities for adults, children, and even teenagers. But today, if you walk through the streets in our city, there is no recognition of that. People’s homes are not decorated anymore, the parks are empty, and there are no signs of the holidays.

Over the course of five years, many events in our city have been cut. The haunted house that used to be at City Hall was held by the police department but was canceled due to funding. Other events mentioned such as Mad Pumpkins On Wheels Race, Dia De Los Muertos, and Fright Night had to be held by other vendors, and eventually cut because of the lack of money the city has. Now, all that was held this year was the Senior Dance for senior citizens to participate in and the Tiny Tot Halloween Festival for the little ones.

But Halloween isn’t the only holiday suffering. Also for Month of the Child, up to four events were held but then it went from four, to three to two to one and was then completely cut. And along with the holidays, other programs have been cut due to funding as well. Some of these programs include girls softball, skate park events, open poetry mic night, the community center talent and art show, just to name a few. Now, the city of Huntington Park is unsure whether or not the annual Thanksgiving/Christmas parade will occur this year.

But is it just funding that has contributed to the problem? Could it be that the people of Huntington Park simply don’t care?

“Generally speaking, Huntington Park has a negative stigma when it comes to safety. Events are important to show that people are capable of coming together in a social setting and are able to enjoy these events in a safe way. “

“People in this community are not aware of the custom. When they don’t know, see, or participate in things, they fear them. When we do have community events and they participate, they start to see how fun, interesting, and creative people can be. They are more willing to be open to participating”,” said Lizet Nugez, recreation coordinator.

“Residents are not aware of the services the city is supposed to provide, and recreation is one of those services that they are entitled to. They don’t think the city is supposed to provide these events, generally people think that the city is only responsible for general things like police or firefighters,.” Added Jessica Perez, management analyst.

So what can the citizens of Huntington Park do?

The youth of this city can actually help tremendously. If the youth of Huntington Park decide that they want these events back, they can come together and apply for volunteer opportunities at the Salt Lake Recreation Center. They can fundraise and organize future events that they would like to see take place here in our city. Many young people may think that they cannot do anything about this issue, but that is quite contrary. According to Jessica Perez, Management Analyst of Salt Lake Recreation Center, “Young people can actually volunteer and make a big difference. If we think differently about the way we organize and bring together events, program, activities, with more support from the community, I think we can put something together. But if it’s not an interest of the community, if they are not really seeking that type of event or service, then nothing will happen.”

This year there is still the tree lighting event held at city hall. The city is looking for volunteers and others to help as soon as possible. All teens have to do is go to City Hall or Salt Lake Park and ask for a volunteer form. “ We are open with working with the youth. It is a matter of talking to us and taking the initiative to make things happen,” said Perez.

All of these events and activities depend on the people helping. If the City of Huntington Park wants to keep its events and community activities, it is up to its citizens to make that happen.