Northwood News ♦ June 2014

Build Community by Holding Your Own Block Party

By Jacquie Bokow

What better way to get to meet and know the neighbors and build neighborhood unity on your street than an old-fashioned block party?  Block off the street, bring food and beverages, supply music — good times guaranteed!

Here are some suggestions for your own block party.

Planning

• Form a committee and meet to organize.  Make assignments:  main contact person, permits/insurance procurer, food and refreshments organizer, activity coordinator, clean-up committee head.
• Survey your neighbors to select the date for the party.  Schedule the event approximately four to six weeks in advance.  Determine if you want to have a “theme” or not.  And what’s your rain plan?
• Apply for a permit from the County.  This must be submitted at least two weeks prior to the event.  The online form is at www.montgomerycountymd.gov/DOT-Traffic/Resources/Files/PDF/blockparty_application.pdf and includes rules for signage, etc.  They do not supply traffic cones, but you can rent them.
• Decide if you’ll have a day or evening block party, or one that spans across both.  Limiting your event to a three- to four-hour time span will probably mean more attendees.
• If your block is long, the party may only span part of it.  The middle of the block is usually the best place to have a block party, unless you have a cul de sac, like Glenwild, which means only one barrier and less disruption to cross-through traffic.
• Set a time limit for the party to prevent it from getting out of hand or from becoming a nuisance to neighbors trying to sleep or otherwise ignore the festivities.  (Not everyone may choose to attend.)
• Decide if pets will be allowed.
• Consider having everyone sign a waiver to protect homeowners and reduce potential neighborhood tension.

Food and Beverages

The planning committee should decide how to organize the party food.  Some ideas:

• The committee purchases food and beverages and charges attendees a flat fee.
• The committee plans a menu and assign households to handle specific categories — such as fruit salads, veggie crudités, other appetizers, side dishes, fruity desserts, chocolate desserts.  (Plates, utensils, napkins, and drinks should all be categories.)
• Ask everyone to bring a main course and beverages for their own family, and a side dish to share with others.
• Have the meal catered.

• Hold a chili or barbeque cook-off, having folks vote for their favorites.
• One or more homes provide grills, on which meat for all or individual families ’ purchases are cooked.
• Ask every family to donate a set amount to offset the cost of the meat, prizes for the kids, and entertainment.
• County regulations permit the consumption of alcoholic beverages at block parties during the times on the permit.

One Month Before

• Send out invitation flyers.  Include contact names and phone numbers for RSVPs and for signing up to bring food or coordinate activities.
• Make arrangements to get barricades to block off the streets surrounding the party.
• Purchase any necessary insurance to cover the event.
• Make arrangements for toilet facilities, if necessary.
• Reserve equipment you will need to rent, such as tables, tents, sound system, etc.  Ask everyone to bring their own chairs.

One Week Before

• Publicize the party by posting signs on either end of your block; DOT’s permit has specific sign requirements.
• Confirm all arrangements that have been made with emergency, police, and fire departments.
• Confirm arrangements for barricades, entertainment, food, refreshments, tents, tables, and any other equipment that will be rented or borrowed.

Activity Ideas

• Invite the local police and fire departments to visit and give safety demonstrations and tours of their vehicles.  Ask the police department to set up a table for free children’s fingerprinting.
• Organize on-going activities to keep younger children busy, such as chalk drawing on the sidewalks, finger painting, kite flying, etc.
• Encourage older kids to help organize games for younger children.
• Organize activities that involve teams/groups of people, such as sack races, egg toss, the orange pass, tug of war, relays, water balloon tosses, three-legged races, or watermelon-eating contests.  What about basketball-shooting contests, volleyball tournament, or bicycle decorating contests?  How about a parade of floats for the little children and a dressed-up bike parade for the older ones, or a pet parade?  Encourage the kids to bring their bikes, skateboards, scooters, or roller blades.  Organize a volleyball, kickball, or street hockey game.  Designate an area for playing cards or chess.  Ask a few teens or adults to take turns painting faces.  There are plenty of other ideas online.  You can do a bunch of these, or none!
• Host a talent show, using someone’s porch as a stage.
• If you have musicians on your block, ask them to perform.
• Don’t over-plan. Give folks the opportunity to relax and talk as well.
• Be courteous to all neighbors by not blocking driveways and by turning down music and lights after 9:00 p.m.

Neighborhood Pride

• Find out who’s lived in your neighborhood the longest and ask them to speak for a few minutes about it.
• If you set up a table to hand out name tags, collect donations to offset the cost, and provide a sign-in sheet for contact info, afterwards you can email everyone a neighborhood directory to help keep connections going.
• Ask everyone to include where they’re originally from in their RSVP comment, then display a map with names pinned to their hometowns.
• Research your neighborhood’s history and create a display board including old photos and interesting facts.
• Plant trees, flowers, or a garden, or clean up your block as part of the party.

Don’t Forget...

• Nametags.  The idea is to get to know each other!
• Before the party, residents in the party area check their front yard for any trash, doggie debris, etc.
• Station trash and recycling bins throughout the party area.
• Have bug repellent and sunblock on hand. Keep your cell phone handy throughout the party for emergencies.  Have a first aid kit somewhere outside that easily accessible.
• Use a bullhorn if there will be organized contests and activities.
• Have tubs with ice for chilling beverages.
• Coolers are a must for storing perishable foods.
• Store meats separately from other food to protect against contamination.
• Make certain that at least a few people will stay after the event to help clean up!

If your neighbors meet a few new families and get to know each other a little better, you’re already beginning to enhance your community.  Remember, it doesn’t take tons of people to have a successful event.  Just have some fun!   ■