places OF CENTRAL
The Hub
Central High School is located the Olney Neighborhood of North Philadelphia, at the corner of Ogontz and W. Olney Avenue. The Google map below shows the various assets that the neighborhood provides including the Olney Transportation Center, which serves as a hub for the large number of students that travel from other parts of Philadelphia. The Olney Transportation Center serves the Broad Street Line and the Broad-Ridge Spur. With a large portion of Central's 2,400 students traveling to school via public transportation, residents described the campus on a typical school morning as "chaos." A local employee noted that students often fill the streets, which makes it very difficult for other cars to pass through.
Central High School is located the Olney Neighborhood of North Philadelphia, at the corner of Ogontz and W. Olney Avenue. The Google map below shows the various assets that the neighborhood provides including the Olney Transportation Center, which serves as a hub for the large number of students that travel from other parts of Philadelphia. The Olney Transportation Center serves the Broad Street Line and the Broad-Ridge Spur. With a large portion of Central's 2,400 students traveling to school via public transportation, residents described the campus on a typical school morning as "chaos." A local employee noted that students often fill the streets, which makes it very difficult for other cars to pass through.
Other Assets
Central High School finds itself situated between both a neighborhood and a commercial district. To the north and west of Central are several homes and Kemble Park. Kemble Park has a large basketball court, which students use after school. We asked a few local residents, who did not attend Central HS, if they enjoyed when students came to the park after school and they said "yes." After a typical school day, students leave school, head home, or head towards either Kemble Park to play basketball, the local Chinese restaurant (New China), or the local pizza shop (Sorrentos). Residents and local business owners understood that Central students were generally not from the local neighborhood, so they did not hang around very long. In fact, there's an essence of disconnect between Central HS and it's surrounding community.
The Feel
The neighborhood surrounding Central HS had somewhat of a college campus feel. We were unable to find any specific community partnerships in our street interviews. Residents and business owners did not approach with animosity the fact that Central students were transient, but, nevertheless, they felt the need to tell us that Central HS and the Olney Community are tied together only by space. Given Central's size, we imagine that students "take over" the corner of Ogontz and Olney. Nevertheless, the community of Olney has a population of over 32,000 people plus a large student population at LaSalle Unversity and a large commercial district, so Central's students can still get lost in the crowd.
Central High School finds itself situated between both a neighborhood and a commercial district. To the north and west of Central are several homes and Kemble Park. Kemble Park has a large basketball court, which students use after school. We asked a few local residents, who did not attend Central HS, if they enjoyed when students came to the park after school and they said "yes." After a typical school day, students leave school, head home, or head towards either Kemble Park to play basketball, the local Chinese restaurant (New China), or the local pizza shop (Sorrentos). Residents and local business owners understood that Central students were generally not from the local neighborhood, so they did not hang around very long. In fact, there's an essence of disconnect between Central HS and it's surrounding community.
The Feel
The neighborhood surrounding Central HS had somewhat of a college campus feel. We were unable to find any specific community partnerships in our street interviews. Residents and business owners did not approach with animosity the fact that Central students were transient, but, nevertheless, they felt the need to tell us that Central HS and the Olney Community are tied together only by space. Given Central's size, we imagine that students "take over" the corner of Ogontz and Olney. Nevertheless, the community of Olney has a population of over 32,000 people plus a large student population at LaSalle Unversity and a large commercial district, so Central's students can still get lost in the crowd.