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Historical April 1992 article. Dates, prices, services and contacts describe the source period; current availability has not been established.
One evening last summer, when we walked home, a friend and I met two girls aged about six and eight on the 5700 block of DeGiverville.
We asked the girls about school.
The older-one said that this had been the last day of the term and that she had gotten a good report card.
She was going to show Mrs. Polk so she could get a reward. Although I knew Shirley Polk from various council meetings, this was the first time I had heard of her activities with the children on her block. Subsequently, I discovered that such activities are long- standing and occur throughout the year. Polk and her husband Al moved to their home on DeGiverville in 1968.
They soon became active in Washington Heights.
They helped to organize the Washington Heights baseball team.
They also began a yearly tradition: a picnic for children from the block in Forest Park.
The Polks have refreshments and various organized activities.
In recent years, the SDCC has helped sponsor the event. Shirley Polk also has sponsored various block parties.
They would rope off the street and have a bazaar, a stage for entertainment, dancing, and various food stands. Polk also has taken neighborhood kids apple picking in the fall and to be photographed with Santa Claus at Christmas.
In 1983, she sponsored a fashion show with young people that was held at the old Stardust Theatre on DeBaliviere.
She has spearheaded the National Night Out observance on her block. Hot dogs are supplied and children have hula hoop and double dutch (jumprope) contests.
There is entertainment too. Polk also donates grass seed to be used on the block and works with the Old Newsboys every autumn to raise money for charity.
She also serves on the St. Louis Advisory Council on Aging and, since 1987, she has been a board member of the Skinker DeBaliviere Community Council.
I asked Shirley Polk why she undertook so many activities with the neighborhood kids.
She replied that kids need a role model and she enjoys seeing them enjoy themselves.
Original photograph caption
Shirley Polk. Photographer not credited.
Originally published in The Times of Skinker-DeBaliviere, April 1992.
Read this article in the original newspaper issue.
Original source: SD_Times1992_04.pdf, printed page(s) 4; PDF page(s) 4.
