North End, Springfield, Massachusetts facts for kids
The North End of Springfield, Massachusetts is a special part of the city. It's actually made up of three smaller neighborhoods: Brightwood, Memorial Square, and Liberty Heights. For over 100 years, the North End has been a first home for many different groups of people who moved to Springfield from other countries. For example, people from Greece settled in Memorial Square, and people from Russia made their homes in Liberty Heights.
Today, the North End has a strong Puerto Rican feel. You can see this in the many colorful banners around the area. These banners often show traditional Carnival masks and the coquí, which is a small frog and an unofficial symbol of Puerto Rico.
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A Growing Community
The North End is home to Baystate Health, which is one of the biggest employers in Massachusetts. This means many people work there. About ten years ago, some people thought the North End was a bit unsafe. However, this idea has changed a lot. Baystate Health has been growing, adding new buildings and doctors. This growth has helped make the area feel safer and more active.
Economic Growth
From 1990 to 2006, the amount of money that Latino families in Springfield could spend grew by a lot – over 295%! What's really interesting is that unlike in some other cities, these families have chosen to stay in Springfield and keep building their lives there. This is great news for the future of Springfield, both for its economy and its culture. It shows that the community is strong and growing.
Fun Events and Improvements
The North End is a lively place with many festivals and events happening throughout the year.
Community Celebrations
One special event takes place during Easter. Residents of the North End put on a Passion Play. This play tells the story of the last 30 hours of Jesus Christ's life. It's a way for the community to come together and share an important tradition.
Neighborhood Upgrades
In the summer of 2011, Main Street in the North End got some big improvements. About $3.6 million was spent to make the streetlights and walkways better. These kinds of projects help make the neighborhood nicer and safer for everyone who lives there or visits.
