As a kid, I remember riding my bike around Havertown with my brother and friends everywhere. We road to every ones houses, we road down to Oakmont to stop by Mapes, we road to Paddock Park to find some cool obstacles to jump...we had a blast. If you didn't have a bike, you walked, because you could actually walk from one side of Havertown to the other safely.
What I didn't realize until much later was that Havertown is unique in that it is set up for easy pedestrian travel. Being an older town, a majority of Haverford Township's neighborhoods connect in a grid like system. Additionally, with few expections, Havertown was developed when cars weren't the main means of transportation and sidewalks where essential to get to public transportation or the local shops.
So what's the big deal? Why are a couple 4ft x 4ft pavers all lined up in a row so important? Beyond allowing the Haverford Township community to simply go for a safe walk through many different neighborhoods, I think it builds community and encourages people to get out of their homes. If you drive around town any day of the week, you'll find people out and about, enjoying the day, walking, running, Mom's and Dad's pushing strollers, kids playing in parks, and neighbors out talking to neighbors.
Its maybe not the first thing you think of when you drive into Havertown, but next time you do, see what you think.
