Anyone ever tried anything like this?

[Katherine Brengle]

I was cleaning my yard a couple of days ago (I live in an apartment building, and no one ever cleans outside--the trash piles up and there is always litter on the lawn), and I had an idea--

I live in a neighborhood full of three-floor apartments. In the four or five blocks that make up my little corner of the neighborhood, there are probably one or two hundred people, including a lot of children, living right here in a few city blocks.

I was thinking about trying to put together a group to keep the neighborhood clean. We don't live in a wealthy area, and I know that people are busy and trying to get by, but I think we owe it to our kids to give them a nicer place to live and play.

So, I want to start a neighborhood clean-up association--I will pledge to supply the trash bags and work gloves if others in the neighborhood will pledge an hour or so a week to help clean up our streets and help some of the older folks keep their yards clean.

What do you think? I was thinking that to cap it all off, maybe once every 2 weeks or so we could have like a block party in the evening, when the weather is nice, and have tiki torches and all the kids could come out and play and we could give them sidewalk chalk and everyone could get to know their neighbors--so we know who is around when our kids are walking to school and playing outside. Plus it would be fun. I know musicians and other things, so I could definitely set up some entertainment and it would be a really good way for the neighborhood to open up a little.

Anyway, any thoughts?

[meegbear]

1. Do it!

QED

[Atman]

2. It is an AWESOME idea

Many/most people just need a slight little kick in the keester to get motivated. The block party idea is a great way to make the whole thing a "community" affair, too. Good on ya'!

[TAPat]

3. Great idea!

Hope it works out and you all get to know each other a little better - it takes a village! :)

[NNadir]

4. It's a beautiful idea.

Sometimes like this generate a response, sometimes they do.

But it's a wonderful idea.

I often find myself picking up other people's trash, but seldom have I solicited help as you suggest. Let us know how it works out.

[phantom power]

5. Nothing to lose by trying. Here in Tempe...

the city has special funding for "neighborhood associations." Basically, any group of people in a region of a couple blocks or so can register as a neighborhood association, and apply for city funding, get city officials to attend their meetings for professional input, etc. If your city has such a program, you might be able to leverage city funding for your ideas. But if not, there's no reason you can't just do it yourself.

[Katherine Brengle]

6. That's interesting --

most of these people, including myself, are renters though--does that make a difference? I am going to look into it, thank you!

[phantom power]

10. Good question about renting. I don't think the city would care.

[Journeyman]

7. We neighbors got together and cleaned up an apartment house. . .

I lived in some years ago. The vegetation was all dead and rotting and trash was everywhere. Shortly after we finished, the owner toured the building with the manager. I was home and heard her angrily denounce how we'd removed plants and changed the landscape. The landlord -- who'd not been in with us on cleaning it up -- defended our action and pointed out how much nicer the place looked. The owner grudgingly admitted that yes, it did look a little better. The next month, rents went up $10 (because, we suspected, the place looked better).

[Dead_Parrot]

13. No good deed goes unpunished....

That really sucks. $5 says I can guess who he voted for... :(

[MuseRider]

8. Do it!

In the tiny community where my farm and future home are located they have an annual clean up day. It is fun and we all work together. As is typical of farming communities many of the older women stay home and fix a bunch of food for us after we are done.

It is really fun, we plant trees and flowers plus the clean up. We made a park out of a vacant lot including making benches out of some of the large branches we chain sawed and hanging a tire swing. We help the neighbors who can't get their own yard work done.

The little kids help too by carrying little buckets of water or bringing us drinks. Do it. Your neighborhood will become closer for it.

[msgadget]

9. I love that idea!

Years ago I visited a housing project in Harlem and getting off the funky elevator I encountered the smell of disinfectant and a spotless hallway, complete with a live tree by the elevator banks. The apartment dwellers had decided to keep on eye out for graffiti and shared the responsibility for discouraging loiterers, disposing of litter and mopping the floor and walls daily. They looked out for each other, kept their floor as safe and clean as possible and this permeated other aspects of their lives. This sort of shared effort can only bring about positive benefits wherever it's implemented.

[hunter]

11. Some high schools require community service.

If you can make your group official enough, you can basically conscript neighborhood high school students who need this kind of work to graduate.

[benddem]

12. Start small

I take a bag along when I walk my dog and pick up trash. Lots of people have seen me doing it and I've noticed more people picking stuff up.
You and a few kids could do great things...wish we had more in our neighborhood. They are either teens or toddlers.