Innisfail residents are being encouraged to get to know their neighbours through the latest initiative by Envision Innisfail.
A committee of Innisfail residents and Town of Innisfail community services employees has developed a block party toolkit to assist residents in planning their own community block party.
“Block parties fall under a lot of the values and actions that were outlined by Envision Innisfail,” said Heather Fletcher, with the Town of Innisfail community services department.
“Your neighbourhood could be anything from four farms in one area to a cul-de-sac in town.”
The toolkit outlines the some of the reasons why communities are being encouraged to host a block party such as to meet new people, to increase a sense of community, and increase safety in your community by knowing who lives where on your block.
It goes on to explain step by step how to organize a block party all the way from notifying your neighbours, to choosing a location, to the rules and bylaws surrounding a pubic event such as a block party.
While the toolkit does not limit the creativity of the hosts it provides residents with information to host a successful, safe, and inclusive party for their neighbourhood.
Topics such as how to go about closing streets, having a fire pit, or BBQ are all covered in the kit, which can be picked up at the town office or downloaded off of the Town of Innisfail website.
Other documents such as Block Party Applications and Neighbourhood Approval Request sheets (to close down a street or cul-de-sac) can also be picked up at the town office.
Anyone interested in hosting a block party can contact the town of Innisfail for more information and the first 20 groups to sign up to host a block party in their community will receive an incentive kit containing t-shirts, skipping ropes, stickers, cook books, coupons, bubbles and other items to go towards the block party.
