“Once you have kids, you want to know the people around you. You want your kids to be safe to go out and play. We’ve got great neighbors. It’s nice when you have people around you who you care about and who care about you.” — Shana Shroll
“It’s about having pride in being here,” Shroll said. “When you know your neighbors, you feel safe and connected. It’s what makes a community a thriving one.” Shroll’s husband bought a home in Eastgate in 2004, where she joined him after they married in 2007. “Two kids and six years later, we’re still
here,” she said. “Once you have kids, you want to know the people around you. You want your kids to be safe to go out and play. We’ve got great neighbors. It’s nice when you have people around you who you care about and who care about you.” Shroll’s neighbor on Woodward Avenue, Chris Burri, moved to Eastgate as a temporary fix seven years ago when plans to build a house in Caledonia fell through. “I had a one-year, in-and-out plan,” he said. “I ended up falling in love with this neighborhood.” Rauwerda said he sees a lot of activity in front of his home on Boston Street — high school athletes in training, young families pushing strollers, neighbors carrying home dinner from Andrea’s Pizza, and active seniors from the nearby Beacon Hill at Eastgate retirement community out for a walk. As editor of Gatewatch, he and his family deliver the newsletter to all the homes in the neighborhood. “If you like to walk on the sidewalk, it’s a beautiful place.” The neighborhood’s churches partner with the Eastgate Neighborhood Association to engage in community outreach. Fifth Reformed Church hosts the annual Trunk or Treat event. More than 300 children showed up last Halloween, said Greg Wilkins, the church’s facilities manager. “It’s just neat to have those connections,”
Top left: Sammy Rauwerda is chased by brother Joey and friends Hosanna and Verity Ippell, while Jim Rauwerda, Nikki and baby Amias Ippell look on. Rauwerda’s home is on the site of the former Kladder’s Cloverland Dairy. Left, Fifth Reformed Church facilities manager Greg Wilkins works on the community garden cleanup. Opposite page, Shana Shroll walks with sons Declan and Colin.
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