The In Your Neighborhood photo series is a response to the two extremes seen in how Hartford is portrayed — either as a hell-on-Earth war zone or as an absolute paradise where everyone is always excited about something.

Weekly, we bring to you photos of a different section of the city. What is delivered is what catches the eye. It is what is, not necessarily what we always want to see, for better or worse.

The South Meadows is a mix of residential and industrial, with the latter easier to see than the former. Our trip through here meant passing folks at work, a few joggers, and one mean junkyard dog. There is no photo evidence of the dog because he was not leashed or inside of a fence and was wearing a spiked collar. Basically, he looked like what every junkyard dog in cartoons was inspired by.

Typically, we see parking jobs that indicate either the driver’s lack of skill, sense of entitlement, or both. Here, we found someone who made an efficient use of the space available by parking a third of his or her vehicle under another vehicle.

Some neighborhoods have home and lawn ornament trends, like shrines and banners. The South Meadows puts its industrial edge right out there.

This is the neighborhood that greets you upon leaving Wethersfield.

But chances are you only see it from I-91. 

It looks different from the ground.

When the gates are open, you can ride along the dike, going from the city line to Maxim Road, further for those with more adventure in them.

 

We have two more neighborhoods to visit in this second round of the series, then we begin the third and final round, catching Hartford in late summer, autumn, and possibly early winter. If you think there is something especially interesting in your neighborhood, let us know in the comments.