Zach Heidenreich recalled running through neighbors’ yards, knocking and ringing doorbells quickly before taking off down Greenridge Road in New Kensington’s Mount Vernon neighborhood.

He and his friends would play football on the street and use telephone poles as end zones. That was in the late 1990s and early 2000s.

“It’s a whole different time now,” said Heidenreich, 29. “You knew people. These kids are from a time of stay inside.”

The New Kensington native and part owner of an ax throwing business in the city moved back to that same street a couple years ago.

Most of those same neighbors Heidenreich “ding-dong ditched” still live along Greenridge Road.

They all shared food and drink Saturday afternoon at a street party.

“All these neighbors have helped me my whole life,” Heidenreich said. “Everybody helps. That’s just how it goes. I’ve heard stories from my mom telling me about how New Ken used to be the spot, then it wasn’t the spot, and now it’s become the spot back. How can I not be a part of it?”

About 40 or so people out of the 60-plus homes gathered in the middle of the street for fun in the sun.

People from odd-numbered houses were asked to bring a side dish, and ones from even-numbered houses were to bring a desert. Some brought games like cornhole.

Barb Summers has lived on the street for 65 years. She said there was a block party about 40 years ago, and when she heard about this weekend’s activity she made a special almond amaretto for the occasion.

“I just try to look out for my neighbors,” Summers said. “It’s always been this way. We’ve gotten a lot of new neighbors because we lost (some neighbors) because of age and so forth. Now we’re getting new neighbors, and we want to meet them and get to know them.”

That was the purpose of the party organized by residents Carly Bindas and Crystal Baksis.

Bindas said people would say hi to each other in passing and have not really mingled much because of the pandemic.

“I think it’s really good to have a neighbor to go to,” Bindas, 30. “It’s a street coming together to be one family together, so how can we support each other in different ways? This is the start of it. We’re pleased. I think it’s great to see everyone together. Everyone’s talking and getting to know each other. Everyone brought some of their specialty foods that they can make to show themselves as a person.”

Bindas has been in Mount Vernon for about three years with her husband, Brad Ruddon.

Baksis, 44, has lived along Greenridge Road for 22 years with her husband, Steve.

She said she could not recall any street parties.

“Hopefully next year it’s more and more (people),” Baksis said.

Some of the food included homemade potato and pasta salads, fried chicken tenders, meatballs, chocolate and peanut butter brownies and various cookies and sweets.

Tents, tables and chairs were supplied by the residents. All who attended were in good spirits and said it was the friendly people who made them want to stay in New Kensington or move back after a few years out of town.

“Good neighbors keeps you going … I think (the party) is wonderful and I hope we can do it again,” said Mary Noel, 93, who has lived on the street since the 1950s.

Copyright ©2025— Trib Total Media, LLC (TribLIVE.com)