A Good Neighborhood Has Kids and Dogs Update

I didn't mean to suggest that everyone in a neighborhood has to have a dog or kid. Egads. Just that it's a good idea if the neighborhood has a good amount of them. People with dogs and babies are easier to meet.

Here are some other people types who help strengthen the bonds of neighborliness by being easy to meet: shop keepers, meticulous sidewalk sweepers, musicians who practice on their porches, artists who paint en plain air, front yard gardeners, and transit riders.

I started with the kids and dogs element, because kids and dogs need public space, in particular parks. Without a park within a block or two, parents might not consider a house suitable for raising kids (except for a house with an unusually large city yard.) This is true for dogs as well. I think the case can be made and has been made that parks contribute to social cohesiveness which helps stabilize the neighborhood, reduce violence, and increase happiness. So it is a policy issue, something individuals can't do for themselves but must do as a community.

For attracting the second group of people, it takes good design and a little organization. At least some of the houses in the neighborhood should have porches, little front gardens, or places to sit. Having public transit nearby is also a plus. In my neighborhood we have organized sidewalk sweeping twice a year, in spring and fall. It's one of the most social occasions of the year. Some gardeners have participated in a City Garden Contest which rewards their efforts in beautifying the neighborhood. Last summer we experimented with Porch Happy Hour rotating among a variety of porches. A neighborhood plan which allows for some shops within walking distance will give everyone a chance to meet up.