30 Ideas in 30 Days
Now that we've covered our 30 ideas, it's time to get out and Build a Better Block!
Better Block is a movement that seeks to promote livable streets and neighborhood vitality through short-term interventions. Started by Go Oak Cliff in the neighborhood with the same name in Dallas, since their start in 2010 the event has been repeated throughout the U.S. and internationally.
Benefits include helping to fill previously vacant or underutilized space. Streets are reclaimed as places for people and not just for automobiles. Entrepreneurs are given a chance to get their start through popups and new jobs and businesses are frequently created as a result. Most significantly, the power to bring about transformation is put directly into the hands of citizens. This has the power to transform the way people relate to place.
One of the best qualities of Better Block is the open source nature of it. What one community has done frequently serves as inspiration for another. Efforts have been made to use social media - especially Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube to share results. FriendlyCorps based in Grand Rapids created a brilliant sign system that will be used in Middlesborough. Oak Cliff continues to have a big sway on all projects that have followed.
This TED Talk by Better Block Co-Founder Jason Roberts is inspiring, fun, and gives you some background - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ntwqVDzdqAU
The Better Block site has more of the thinking behind it - http://betterblock.org/
There's been 40 Better Blocks in the US and several internationally. The best and most up-to-date list we have follows.
Upcoming Better Block Events
- La Alma Action (Denver, CO)
- Better Block Montgomery (Montgomery, AL)
- Better Block Clovelly (Sydney, Australia)
- Better Block Middlesborough (Middlesboro, KY)
Past Better Block Events
- Better Block BR (Baton Rouge, LA)
- Better Block OKC (Oklahoma City, OK)
- Better Block Brownsville (Brownsville, TX)
- Better Block Indy (Indianapolis, IN)
- Better Block re:State (Grand Rapids, MI)
- Eagle Street Rising (North Adams, MA)
- Better Block St. Joe (St. Joseph, MO)
- Better Block Five Points (Denver, CO)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zQ_Ev9qK17w
- Better Block Ft. Lauderdale (Ft. Lauderdale, FL)
- Better Block Jefferson Park (Denver, CO)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BA5tMyuHXoo
- Better Block Race Street Fort Worth (Fort Worth, TX)
- Geelong Better Block (Australia)
- Better Block Houston (Houston, TX)
- Alamo Plaza (San Antonio, TX)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VC5EFcD5aCM
- Oyster Bay (Long Island, NY)
http://vimeo.com/12755331
Main Street Story of the Week, http://www.preservationnation.org/main-street/main-street-news/story-of-the-week/2011/111012/48x48x48-an-intervention-in.html
Street Plans Collaborative, http://www.streetplans.org/documents/48x48x48%20Description.pdf
- St. Paul Better Block (St. Paul, MN)
- Better Block #1 (Dallas, TX)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=18bfh--Tq6M
- A New Face for Old Broad (Memphis, TN)
- Norfolk Better Block (Norfolk, VA)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nnrYE9hi3rM
- Better Block - Mt. Rainier (Mt. Rainier, MD)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=snmzLWNPlys
- Pop Up Pearl Better Block (Cleveland, OH)
- Steer FW (Fort Worth, TX)
- Better Block Detroit (Detroit, MI)
- Better Block Glass Street (Chattanooga, TN)
- Better Block Kansas City (Kansas City, MO)
- Better Block Santa Monica (Santa Monica, CA)
Better Block Middlesborough was held from October 25-27, 2013, in Middlesborough, Kentucky. To help with planning for future events like this, please consider making a donation today!
Managing the Event
- #1: Think Incrementally
- #2: Build a Better Block
- #3: Encourage Public Participation
- #4: Temporary to Permanent
- #5: Pre-Vitalization
- #6: Leverage the Power of the Crowd
- #7: Raise the Funds You'll Need
- #8: The Strength of Main Street
- #9: Sidewalk Stencils and Signs
- #10: Blackmail Yourself
Welcoming People
- #11 The Power of 10
- #12 Walk [Your City]
- #13 Mobile Vendors
- #14 Food Trucks and Carts
- #15 Plant Trees
- #16 Cover Up Blank Walls
- #17 Free Library
- #18 Pop-up Parks
- #19 Pop-Up Shops
- #20 Temporary Improvements Encourage Historic Preservation Planning
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