Mini United Nations

By

Gerry Niskern

The Enchanted Island Amusement Park at Encanto has been in the news lately. It was in danger of closing for a long period of renovation for a new ownership. It will remain as is for another year.

But did you know that there’s been a mini United Nations gathering every weekend at Encanto Park for many years?

The delegates at these multicultural meetings in the heart of Central Phoenix are Middle Eastern, Asian, African American, Anglo, Hispanic, Jewish, Native American and many other ethnic groups.  As soon as a grownup  buys the tickets, the junior dignitaries  all race to be the first on the rollercoaster, merry-go-round or airplanes.

On a recent afternoon, everyone seemed headed for the roller coaster. High above on the platform a future doctor, with immaculate combed blonde hair was rushing to be in the first car on the Dragon; but so was a future chief, a little Native American boy. Suddenly an Asian princess with black braids tried to scoot by and take the front seat. They both  stopped, shrugged, let little Miss Saigon pass and then both climbed into the second car.

Nearby, down on the grass, a small gymnast in a purple leotard was teaching two little Middle Eastern girls, wearing  head coverings.  how to turn a cartwheel. It didn’t seem to matter if their new playmates wore clothes that were different. The color of their skin wasn’t important. Giggles were the universal language of the day.

I watched a tiny red head begin to cry as her bumper boat was rammed hard repeatedly while she was stuck in a tight spot. Soon, a bigger boy, wearing a Yarmukle,  guided his boat in and freed hers. Meanwhile, to my left, a Hispanic  toddler hurried over and gently rocked a cradle- carrier containing a crying Black infant. The mutual mothers laughed in approval.

While watching these kids, I thought back to how pleased my mother was when we moved to Arizona in l942 and we brought home Mexican, Asian, and Anglo friends. She loved the fact that the place we now called home didn’t seem to have the ethnic prejudices of our little hometown back East.

While I was growing up here, the population was exploding at record speed. All newcomers found room to breathe and prosper in the welcome Western atmosphere.

The Enchanted Island at Encanto Park on any weekend afternoon is a tiny snap shot of the diverse culture of our city in the heart of Arizona.!