James D. Brown: ‘Take care of your park because it's your park’

Meet James D. Brown. Mr. Brown has lived just off 29th and Melvina since 1979. He owns the home at 2916-18 W. Melvina St. where he and his wife raised his two sons. His oldest son is married and lives in Milwaukee. His other son moved to California. He is proud of both of them.

He also takes pride in his home and neighborhood. He believes people should take pride in what they do.

Mr. Brown remembers the severe flooding of July 2010 when Capitol Drive was flooded underneath the railroad bridge between 31st and 35th. “People came underneath the bridge…. [they] couldn’t get through. People going around in circles trying to get around, get home.”

Green infrastructure improvements to Melvina Park across from Mr. Brown’s home are part of an effort to reduce risk of flooding—to absorb stormwater in bioswales that also make the park a comfortable place to walk, play, and connect with other neighbors, young or old. Mr. Brown is proud of the Melvina Park improvements.

What would he like to tell young people? For one, something his parents taught him: don’t throw paper on the ground unless you pick it up.

“Take care of your park because it’s your park,” Mr. Brown says. “Take care of the place you own, you’ll have it. If you don’t take care of it, then you’ll lose it…. Pick up the paper. Watch for vandalism. Keep it clean like your house. Take care of it like you own it. It’s your area. You live in it. You gotta take care of it.”