Organizers say the annual season of concerts, dance parties and arts events known as "Connect the Lots" attracted 10,000 people last year. "Connect the Lots" is designed to draw residents back to areas that had been improved in recent years with millions in public investments. "Many of those open spaces had been turned over for criminal activity," said Meishka Mitchell, vice president of the Cooper's Ferry Partnership. "They had been really places that the neighborhood residents had avoided for many years." And so "Connect the Lots" was born five years ago.
"Once [people] get there and see that this place is for them and it's amazing and safe and has family activity that then they'll come back there on their own," Mitchell said.
Camden resident Andre Jackson likes that concept. "Because I live in Camden, it gives people something to do every day other than get themselves in trouble," Jackson said.
Resident George Davis picked up a brochure outlining this summer's activities, and there were plenty that caught his eye.
"The paddle down the river, the movie night, there's different events. They have boot camp and summer exercises every Monday throughout the summer," Davis said. "There's like five different pages of different things you could do throughout the summer. And it's all free." "Connect the Lots" kicks off Friday, May 17 with Camden Night Gardens at Cooper's Poynt Waterfront Park, featuring live music, food trucks and fireworks.