6 Ways to Improve Your Neighborhood
Try these six ideas for sprucing up your community!
Whether you’re new in town and looking to make some waves, or you’ve lived in your neighborhood long enough to spot some gaps, these small improvements will work wonders in your community!
When picturing our ideal neighborhood, most of us picture a close-knit community, perhaps with plenty of friends on the block, accessible activities and clean, welcoming spaces. Although common in TV shows and movies, communities like this are actually pretty hard to come by! The good news is, every individual in a neighborhood can play a hand in improving it. Whether through improving your landscaping to elevate your neighborhood’s appearance or by trying out one of these six strategies, your neighbors are sure to thank you!
Set up a way to communicate
Whether through a Facebook group, Nextdoor, or even an email or text chain, initiating a way for everyone on your block to stay in contact and inviting neighbors to join is the first step to fostering more connection between households. Once it’s set up, you can use it to promote other bonding experiences like block parties, for practical uses like making recommendations for service providers like plumbers, and to lend others a helping hand.
For example, it might be a great way to offer help house sitting or picking up mail for someone going out of town, or setting up a meal train for a family with a newborn or who’s experiencing a tough time. Without an easy way to stay in touch and update others, it’s extremely difficult to leverage the resources and the connection of those who live nearby.
Plant a community garden
Even better than planting your own vegetable garden? Starting a community garden! Not only does this boost sustainability and self-sufficiency in your area, it also creates a shared space where neighbors can connect and interact, strengthening bonds in the process.
Of course, there’s a fair amount of planning involved in this one. You’ll need to find the best way to secure the land in your area, where to put it, and then plan out who will participate and what will be planted throughout the area. If the undertaking feels too overwhelming, start small - maybe just grab a small group of neighbors and plant a few trees along your street!
Engage in local government
If you’re noticing larger issues in your neighborhood that you and your neighbors can’t fix alone, it might be time to engage with local government. Details that impact daily life like traffic laws, stop signs, parks and open spaces all likely lie out of your control as residents, but engaging with local officials or even running for a seat in local government can lead to the change you want to see!
Start a mini-library or book exchange
Chances are, at some point you’ve walked by one of the Little Free Library setups that have exploded in popularity over the last few years. These are basically oversized birdhouses with clear fronts, and they’re filled with books! If you start one, adding a just few books at the beginning is plenty. Then, as neighbors and visitors walk by, they can take a book, leave a book, or borrow a book! This is a particularly beautiful practice for neighborhoods with lots of children, since it provides a feeling of magic around reading.
Depending on what you observe in your community, the Little Free Library concept can be adapted or expanded to include things like cleaning supplies, or even nonperishable food items to create a “little free pantry.”
Organize an event
Putting together an art show, a local 5K, a craft fair or a parade not only puts your neighborhood on the map but also brings joy and connection among everyone who opts in to help plan it! Take stock of the holidays and the weather in the upcoming months, and decide what to center your event around. You can keep it small like a block party, or go big and aim to draw in other locals! Who knows - if it goes well, it may become the annual event that defines your neighborhood.
Participate in a cleanup
Organize or simply participate in a neighborhood cleanup. Not only will it elevate your neighborhood and promote community responsibility, but strolling along the streets with a few neighbors is a great way to get to know them and connect on a deeper level than the quick “hellos” at the mailbox allow.
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