Slow Roll Week Four: Kirtland Park (Asiatown)

Goodrich-Kirtland Park is one of the neighborhoods in our city most likely to elicit a confused look and a shrug even from locals. Would it help if we told you it's also called Asiatown? The area has a rich and fascinating history. Did you know Asian-Americans originally moved to Cleveland from the West Coast to escape the racism they endured after being enticed from their homelands to work on building the nation's railroad network in the 19th century? Cleveland has a long, proud tradition as a safe harbor city, and we honor it.

This Monday, join us (6 PM gather, 7 PM ride) in Kirtland Park, the area's namesake, which today sits in a sort of nowhere zone between the neighborhoods to the south it and the freeway and sea of cars to the north. The park itself is a green oasis, little noticed by traffic rushing east or west…