Natrona comes together: On the road back

Neighborhood revitalization groups often start out gung-ho, only to fizzle out not long after the initial excitement wanes.

Not in Natrona. Not with the Natrona Comes Together Association.

About a year after its formation, the group seems to be picking up momentum in this neighborhood that is sandwiched between two Allegheny Ludlum steel mills.

The group has organized five well-received events in the past year, and they're becoming more frequent.

• The association sponsored a successful cleanup day last October. More than 80 Natrona residents took advantage of the free service. Residents filled eight large Dumpsters with trash, some hauling it in by the truckload.

More than 40 volunteers braved the rain for four hours that day to help collect and dispose of the trash.

• On the first Saturday in January, several hundred people enjoyed a celebration organizers dubbed "Natrona's Twelfth Night Festival." There was a bonfire, hot chocolate, horse-drawn carriage rides and other festivities. Children had their faces painted, wore colorful hats made of balloons and climbed about on the Kennywood trolley.

• In March, more than 30 residents showed up to form a Crime Watch group in Natrona.

• Families roamed booths at the Natrona ballfield one Saturday afternoon in early May, getting lunch, putting for cash, making crafts, playing basketball -- a day designed for community fun.

• In June, the group joined in the regional River Sweep 2006 effort, cleaning up the Allegheny River bank that forms one of Natrona's borders.

Natrona has a long way to go to make a comeback. But through the efforts of this grass-roots neighborhood group led by Natrona resident and artist Bill Godfrey, the people of Natrona are giving themselves a fighting chance.

We hope residents' participation continues to grow. That will ensure steady progress and, ultimately, success.