Be There or Be Square

       At the center of Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania is what we call “the Square”. Our Public Square has been the center of events throughout history. Groups host events and fund raisers there all the time. It is located just a couple blocks from two colleges, the courthouse is nearby, and it has our city’s famous F.M. Kirby Center which is used for a wide array of performances, concerts, and shows. The Square has always been the core to our community.
       The Square is surrounded by four streets that are filled with businesses, restaurants, and hotels. Trees and benches surround the Square and at the center is a huge water fountain. It has always been a friendly environment where families can spend their weekends doing different kinds of activities. In recent years, though, the Square has been losing its value. Stores and restaurants are closing down and leaving the buildings abandoned. Crime rate has gone up in the city, so families do not feel as comfortable taking their children around. Lastly, people just simply don’t clean up after themselves.
       The Square is an important part of our community and I believe that it should be kept that way. Abandoned buildings are being used for crimes, so we need to clean them up so businesses can buy them. The most important part in preserving the significance of the Square is simply cleaning up the litter so groups will want to host events and get the positive attention back to the core of our community.

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