This past week in my class a fellow student
introduced the idea of “third spaces” The first space being the home, the
second being work, and the third space being the place where people just “hang
out”. Third spaces may include public parks, cafes, or in the case of the
example my classmate used informal shopping areas created by street vendors. I
began to wonder where are the third spaces in Clairton, the informal hangouts
and gathering places?
My first stop in searching for these spaces was to
check the City of Clairton’s website. Instantly, I learned of the pool, park,
and baseball field. But, I wondered how often these spaces were used. I have spoken
before about Clairton’s reputation and some of the recent violent events that
have happened in the city. Having grown up in a neighborhood plagued by
violence myself, I remember my mother’s warnings not to go to the public parks
after dark or alone. I do not say this to suggest that Clairton's situation is the same as
my childhood neighborhood. It is not. My childhood neighborhood remains
fractured while neighborhood organizations in Clairton appear to have the ability to work together.Yet, I do know how sometimes
places built for children and recreation can become places of violence and here between these two neighborhoods I draw an anecdotal parallel.
I began to think of other places where I pass my free
time. Where are the "third spaces" in my life? I understand that what one views as entertaining can very depending on social factors. I am a
privileged graduate student and my life chances and opportunities may have left
me interested in things that eclipse my current social class. Nevertheless, I started my exploration of the informal side of Clairton by searching for the location of the nearest coffee place. I then moved on to a library. Both the closest coffee house and
library were located outside of the city in surrounding municipalities or boroughs.
I thought again. What else is entertaining? I scanned the map for restaurants, bars,
banquet halls, and other clubs. I am sad to report that once again there were none within the borders of Clairton. My methods are not without fault. My exploration resources are limited, consisting only of internet
maps and news articles. To find the informal hangouts and to understand the atmosphere of the city I know that I will have to visit. I completed a search for news articles about Clairton and came across one
detailing the recent opening of a banquet hall, but banquet halls are not
usually informal spaces. I recalled some of the community organizations in
Clairton and the efforts they were making to promote recreational spaces including after school programs and playgrounds. I began to understand. It is easy
to read about the effect the closure of the steel mills had on Pittsburgh, but
it is another thing to see the effects of the economic void their departure left behind. I know that not everything in Clairton is negative. I understand the effects that stereotype threat and stigma can have on the formation of neighborhood pride. In the coming weeks I will visit Clairton. I do not wish to be only a surveyor. I want to understand the city and its social dynamics. Stay tuned!
