Weird 4th of July discovery

by: Rachel Berger

Tue Jul 13, 2010 at 15:01:00 PM EDT

Last weekend, I took a trip up to the Poconos for a little 4th of July fun: bbq’s, canoeing, and seeing the gorgeous mountains in the Delaware Water Gap. If you went to Jewish summer camp somewhere along the East Coast, you’ll remember this place; it’s got level 1 rapids which means that there is no way you can fall out of your canoe, unless you are my dad, in which case you fall out twice.

Next door to our bed & breakfast was basically what looked like summer camp for adults:  a private community along the Delaware River with a several groups of bungalows and a shared lawn. I did a little digging and discovered that 25% of Pennsylvania residents live in private communities: closed off communities-- the one I saw was gated-- where private companies are responsible for making sure residents get services that governments otherwise provide.  Services like road plowing after a snow-storm, trash collecting, even maintaining septic systems and dams.