After possibly the longest spring in the history of springs, I crawled out of isolation and began to knock on some doors to meet neighbors in a tiny piece of the target area chosen for revitalization efforts, newly dubbed the Boost Our Blocks Zone. With the acquisition of our shiny new Beaver Falls Forward revitalization plan, I hoped to spark some of the energy in town that had accumulated after months of stillness.
Our approach toward neighborhood revitalization relies heavily on those who we call “neighborhood champions,” the people who are out shoveling their sidewalks, raking leaves, and planting flowers. These people often go unnoticed, but they are also often the most ready to work. I can’t think of a better way to move toward revitalization of the neighborhood than to start with neighbors who are already in motion. They care and they know the place well, its faults, its quirks, and its joys all the like.
After a few months of canvassing, we’ve recruited a core group of neighbors to work with. We’ve held a few meetings to talk about neighbor led projects where people are working together, using their talents and connections to invest in and improve their blocks. A few weeks ago, a group from the neighborhood came together to clean up overgrowth at an empty property that is a big eyesore on the street. It was great to see what a difference a little bit of organizing can do. People brought whatever tools they had and we filled eight giant trash bags worth of brush and trash.
Currently, the group is in the midst of working on a sidewalk project for sections that need some TLC. These past few months have been a huge encouragement and a sign of hope that there will be more groups like this, that want to improve the place where they live and will do some of the necessary dirty work to get there.