Located in the heart of Postindustrial America, New Castle, Pa., has been struggling ever since the decline of the steel industry.
Losing its industry brought hard times as people lost jobs and, eventually, businesses closed. Population began to drop in the 1960s and continues to decline — New Castle, after all these years, remains a shell of a city just waiting to be reborn.
New Castle holds a special place in my heart. I grew up in Pulaski, just 10 miles away. After graduating from college, I worked as a photojournalist for the local newspaper, New Castle News, for a year before moving to the Washington, D.C., metro area.
Each time I visit my hometown, my heart breaks for New Castle.
Considering all that New Castle has lost over the years, in every direction, there is potential.
Empty storefronts; aged, ornate buildings; and tattered park facilities all could be reimagined for a new era. These transformations will not come easily. There is a lot of work to be done if New Castle is to shake off the past and see its own resurgence. It needs a new industry — something to give the city a heartbeat again and pump life back into its streets.
City leaders should fight to bring big retail back into its storefronts to revitalize the local economy and existing small businesses. Recreation options need to be developed for residents and their neighbors.
Regardless, I hold onto hope for New Castle.
