Photo Credit: East Goshen Township
Founded by Quakers in the 1700s, East Goshen Township is a suburban community located 30 miles outside of Philadelphia, Penn. Its rolling green hills are dotted by many historical properties, most prominent of which is the blacksmith shop. Built in 1740 of stone and beam shaped by hand, it was the most important building of its day.
Blacksmiths shaped iron for horseshoes, wheels for wagons, and tools for everyday use. Today, its silhouette adorns the township logo, and it is seen by thousands of people driving by in their cars each day. The problem, however, was that no one ever got out of the cars to visit the blacksmith shop.
The township Department of Parks and Recreation has a completely different problem. It has an amazing new playground space that is constantly spinning with youthful laughter. There is a robust senior-citizen programming that is well-attended and constantly expanding. Nonetheless, the department’s teen programming always falls flat—it’s simply seen as irrelevant; activities are perceived as being for little kids or active older adults.