Block Parties
In The Halifax Regional Municipality:
Usage, Meaning, & Possibility
‘Actions’
‘Critical Mass’
‘Park(ing) Day’
‘Public Potlucks’
‘Urban Repair Squad’
‘Actions’ who: you what: change where: the city when: now how: do it yourself DIY Urbanism: Testing the Grounds for Change Keffer, 2010
Block Parties in HRM
Block Parties in HRM
Block Parties in HRM a focus on:
“empowering and organizing communities [by] fostering active civic engagement� - Community Relations & Cultural Affairs, HRM
Block Parties in HRM
Research Question What are the patterns of usage, meaning, and possibility that emerge from the Halifax Regional Municipality’s ‘Block Party Permit’?
Research Question What are the patterns of usage, meaning, and possibility that emerge from the Halifax Regional Municipality’s ‘Block Party Permit’?
1. usage - extent of block parties as a subset of ‘actions’ 2. meaning - intents, contents, outcomes 3. possiblity - citizen-city relationship
Usage
Quantity
381
137
Total # Of Permits, 2004-2010
Total # Of Streets, 2004-2010
Quantity
54 Average # of Block Parties / Year
Usage Location of Block Party Permits, 2004-2010, HRM
67
Dartmouth
Halifax 260
27 16 12
Bedford Sackville
Outer Suburbs
HRM
Block Party Permits
Usage
2004-2010 0
4 km
1:135,000
8
HRM
Block Party Permits
Usage
2004-2010 0
4 km
1:135,000
8
Quantity
58% Of Streets Active in 2004 & 2010
Quantity
85% Of Streets Active in 2004 & 2010 Are Located on Peninsular Halifax
Frequency
Halifax
Frequency, 2004-2010 1 0
2
3
4 1 km
1:50,000
5
6
7 2
Frequency
Halifax
Frequency, 2004-2010 1 0
2
3
4 1 km
1:50,000
5
6
7 2
Meaning
Streets Studied
Halifax
Study Sample Streets Studied 0
1 km
1:50,000
2
Intents “I think I probably had suggested it because ... I thought ‘what a great way of getting together with your neighbours’. It is a great way to have that feel and build the community.” - Block Party Organizer, Street D
“We are in our little bubbles much of the time” - Block Party Organizer, Street G
“We don’t push any issue and there is no agenda other than getting out and dancing.” - Block Party Organizer, Street C
Contents
Outcomes
“I think that emotionally and as a community you feel more connected and stronger when you do have these opportunities to get together.” - Block Party Organizer, Street D
“You know now I walk down the street and it is ‘Oh, hi Jack,’ ‘Hi John,’ ‘Hi Joe,’ and this kind of stuff. So it has really opened up the door in the sense of community in a big way.” - Block Party Organizer, Street C
Possibility
Permit
“I personally found the process fairly easy, and I wouldn’t change one thing.” - Block Party Organizer, Street B
“It was oddly easy.” - Block Party Organizer, Street E
Permit
“There was a concern about a lack of fairness around being a democratic process where one out of twenty households could shut it down.� - Block Party Organizer, Street C
Permit
“There’s a couple good things [about the permit]. The first thing is, you have to go and knock on everybody’s door and tell them what’s going on and see if its okay. Everybody has to agree.” - Block Party Organizer, Street C
Planning
“Planners should ask themselves what part of their plans or programs might be taken up by citizens, not only for the costs savings but for the multitude of positive benefits of ... participation� - (Morales, 2010)
Acknowledgments THANK YOU TO: all those who provided their invaluable insights into the intricacies of block parties, the HRM’s Traffic & Right-of-Way Services for their assistance in providing information, and the School of Planning Faculty for their endless encouragement and expertise.