How we can rebuild community and neighborhoods along blighted Decker Boulevard | Opinion

Decker Boulevard cuts through the heart of Richland County. Also known as the International Corridor, it is anchored by Percival Road to the east, Two Notch Road to the west, Arcadia Lakes and Forest Acres to the south, and the Woodfield Park neighborhoods to the north.

Once popular and prosperous, it was home to Applegate’s Landing, Red Wing Roller Way, Olive Garden, Red Lobster, Zorba’s and my favorite — Rush’s. All have closed or moved on. They were fun spots frequented by families. Now, notwithstanding some solid enterprises, often with an ethnic connection to unite us, the area is stressed.

The residents, part of a diverse population, feel a sense of separateness. They know things have changed, but they don’t think people are listening. Roads need attention, trash is an issue, and gunfire is heard too frequently. Children have said they don’t feel safe walking home from school. Arcadia Lakes residents live nearby yet count few as neighbors across the boulevard.

It’s time we adopted a community view to change that.

Kassy Alia Ray founded an organization known as Serve and Connect after her husband, Forest Acres police officer Greg Alia, was shot and killed in 2015. She understands that neighbors must know neighbors to discuss and address common concerns.

Serve and Connect, a local nonprofit, works along Decker Boulevard and other areas across the state to assist and transform communities by having law enforcement officers and communities support each other. A stronger community means shared concerns, hopes and successes.

As mayor of Arcadia Lakes, I know nothing is more important than building community.

Initiatives like Serve and Connect’s Decker Collective will facilitate building bridges between neighbors, creating a much-needed community spirit. This initiative is not just about improving neighbors’ lives north of Decker Boulevard; it’s about ensuring the security and well-being of all nearby residents.

Arcadia Lakes has no police department and typically little crime. The Richland County Sheriff’s Department does the policing. A review of community crimes for the most recent 12 months showed only a fraud case in Arcadia Lakes in July. In contrast, the area to its north is covered with icons indicating offenses.

Gunfire is sometimes heard in Arcadia Lakes but does not originate here. Usually, it comes from Decker Boulevard’s direction. Yet we would be wise to recognize that what happens in nearby neighborhoods affects our neighborhoods. Excessive vehicle noise, speeding and trash do not stop at the town limits.

If children lack space to play, learn and live safely on one side, both sides suffer. That’s the case now in some parts of the neighborhoods on the north side of Decker Boulevard. People there must feel their voices heard about trash, overgrown vegetation, yard debris left uncollected, abandoned buildings, road conditions, street lighting, crime and a lack of activities for youth. Change takes effort.

The Decker Collective focuses on listening to neighbors and finding solutions from the bottom up. At their core, improvements can be simple. They can mean people supporting high school athletics and meeting neighbors at community events. They can mean promoting secure spaces and safe passage for kids. And they can mean helping the arts or sharing a chat over coffee.

Participating with the Decker Collective will make our communities more robust and united. For some, building community is an act of faith. For others, reducing crime and protecting property values is reason enough.

Whatever the motivation, the Forest Lake Presbyterian Church, the New Creation Baptist Church, the Richland County Sheriff’s Department, the Forest Acres Police, Arcadia Lakes residents, SLED and Richland School District 2 are working together for a community view — a “collective” that will make a difference.