Resilient Streets Toolkit
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This toolkit is designed toWelcome! help you (and This toolkit is a 1.0, “beta” version. That Of course, no one can build the relation- your neighbours!) start making your means, we’re hoping that you’ll give us ships between you and your neighbours building, street or block more resilient feedback about what works and what for you – only you and your neighbours with some fun, hands-on projects. We’re doesn’t and why, and share with us what can do that. And only you and your deliberately suggesting projects that can you learn along the way so we can use neighbours can decide how you want to be done by small groups of people with your experiences and advice to help oth- go about doing that. What we’re hoping few resources, because finding creative ers. If you come across a great tool or to do is engage, inspire and assist you in ways to do lots with little is a big part of resource, send it our way so we can add any way we can. what resilience is all about! it to the kit. Every group and street is dif- ferent, but by learning together we can all become stronger – that’s a basic principle of building resilience, too! Here’s what’s included in this toolkit: • Examples of Resilient Streets projects that have been done elsewhere • How-to Guides to get started on Resilient Streets projects • Links to resources for more information and ideas We’ve organized this all into 4 categories of resilience-building activities that can work well at the street or building level. These include: 1. Gatherings & Celebrations ............................................................ page 3 2. Placemaking: Shared Infrastructure & Spaces .......................... page 5 3. Sharing & the Local Economy ....................................................... page 7 4. Peer Learning & Action ................................................................page 10 BUILDING RESILIENT NEIGHBOURHOODS ABOUT RESILIENT STREETS: What are “Resilient Streets”? “Resilient Streets” is part of the Build- neighbours in an apartment or con- nations to make them more resilient. ing Resilient Neighbourhoods proj- dominium buildings. On a Resilient But we can make changes in our own ect, a collaborative effort to help cre- Street, people who live close to each lives, and reach out and try to change ate more resilient communities in the other may, for example, have more our relationships with the people near Capital Region. social events to get to know each oth- us. Then, as we knit those connections One way that you can begin to make er better, start sharing tools with each together, we’re soon changing our our communities stronger and more other more, or work on different issues neighbourhoods, and then our cities! resilient is by strengthening the con- or projects together. But it all starts with each of us and the nections and relationships between Sometimes it seems overwhelming to people around us. neighbours on a street, or between try to change entire cities, provinces or In our experience, “Resilient Streets” are places where neighbours: Know each other and have strong connections Share resources and other items (like tools, baby clothes, etc.) to be more locally-reliant Are able to cooperate and share leadership between neighbours in street or block issues and activities. 2 IDEAS & TOOLS FOR BUILDING RESILIENT STREETS & BUILDINGS: 1. Gatherings & Celebrations your ith ne i w g Parties might sound like a lot of fun – and they are! But they’re also a great way to build “social capi- t h c b e o n tal.” In a relaxed setting, people have the opportunity to share positive experiences, learn about each u n r o s C other’s concerns, interests and skills, and network. The next time they bump into each other on the street, they already feel more comfortable and connected. That growing sense of closer connection between people who live near each other is a vital building block for resilient communities. INSPIRING EXAMPLES: Gatherings & Celebrations Cool Neighbourhoods: Have a Party with a Purpose! The Cool Neighbourhoods program of the Cool North Shore Society brings neighbours together for a “party with a purpose” to learn about opportunities for residents to reduce and conserve energy in their homes. The program is based on neighbourhood get-togethers that provide an opportunity for sharing information and expe- riences between neighbours, as well as a chance for Cool North Shore to bring “experts” in to answer questions. Working with neighbourhoods in West Vancouver, District of North Vancouver and the City of North Vancouver, Cool Neighbourhoods facilitates neighbours getting together to share information on home energy saving topics, including: Simple behaviour changes; • Home energy management; • High efficiency furnaces; • Insulation; • Renewable energy; • High efficiency windows and doors and, • Sealing, caulking, and weather stripping. Check out their YouTube video about how they do it up in style: www.youtube.com/watch?v=dWI8J6lOFl8&feature=youtu.be and get inspired on their website: www.coolneighbourhoods.org You can also learn how a small group of residents on Eagle Island inspired this growing movement and approach, and what the key success factors have been at: mc-3.ca/eagle-island 3 IDEAS & TOOLS FOR BUILDING RESILIENT STREETS & BUILDINGS: MORE INSPIRING EXAMPLES: Gatherings & Celebrations Diner en Blanc. Roving Potluck: Porchfest. Want to take the street party to the East Van GrubCrawl: Take the classic Remember when the front porch was next level? This video documents the potluck up a notch! This roving pot- a place to socialize? This music festi- White Dinner Party that was organized luck in East Vancouver has everyone val is held on the porches of the Fall on Clare Street, in Victoria BC. The enjoying one course at each person’s Creek and Northside neighbourhoods neighbours on this street are known house and traveling between stops of Ithaca, New York and has been be- for their spontaneous dinner parties... together until they have a complete come such a hit several neighbour- but the call for a White Dinner, took meal. Focused on getting to know hoods in other cities have now started the street party to a whole new level. your immediate neighbours, the their own Porchfests. Bands play on See it in action on their YouTube video: catch is that you won’t know who their own or on a friend’s porch. Maps www.youtube.com/watch?v=JFqWdP- your dinner companions will be un- are provided so that people can walk wlKac Learn about the International til you all arrive at the first home. or bike around the neighbourhood to movement at: www.victoria.dineren- www.grubcrawl.ca catch all the music that is being played. blanc.info In one of four time slots. Music genres range from classical to roots rock to country to pop to reggae to punk rock and more. www.porchfest.org a e L n r b a o y n i r o t o r u e e r u u b t s t i r n d l u e i o w n y g n t ! o o o e l s g , n p TOOLS & LINKS: Gatherings & Celebrations a r h o c j e e c k t a s a m n o d t r s e e s c o r u Reinvent Neighbour Day. The Big Lunch. Street Party Kit. Community the Potluck. This celebration of Similar to Neigh- A great toolkit on Event Trailers. How to tips and basics neighbourliness ex- bours’ Day, this UK how to organize your Many municipalities on how to build com- ists in many towns toolkit offers tons of block party from our have an all in one kit munity through shar- and cities around the great resources to friends in Australia. created specifically ing food together. world. Here are some organize a get-tgether Many municipalities to support residential great tools to get you with your neighbours have similar toolkits neighbourhood block www.shareable.net/ started on creating on a particular day or supports, so con- parties for rent at low- blog/how-to-rein- your own Neighbours with a focus on build- tact them to find out cost. Check this one vent-the-potluck Day on your block: ing community. what they might offer, out, and contact your or how to get a local municipality to www.magazine. www.thebiglunch.com/ permit to close off see if they have one: good.is/articles/your- join-in/download-re- your street. neighborday-toolkit- sources.php www.esquimalt.ca/ is-here1 www.whitehorse.vic. parksRecreation/facil- gov.au/IgnitionSuite/ ityRentals/eventTrail- uploads/docs/Street- er.aspx PartyKit.pdf 4 2. Placemaking: shared infrastructure & spaces your In recent decades, urban planners have been mainly focused on designing neighbourhoods that cars ith ne i w g t h can get through quickly on their way to somewhere else, usually somewhere far away – That’s not very c b e o n u n resilient! And unfortunately, that design approach doesn’t build the kind of vibrant neighbourhoods that r o s C people enjoy walking, sitting, shopping, and socializing in. But we can ‘re-take our streets’ with boulevard gardens, a tire swing for all to share, micro-libraries, shared rainwater collectors or other projects that help bring people together, save energy, and strengthen social capital. INSPIRING EXAMPLES: Placemaking: shared infrastructure and spaces Clare Street, Oak Bay Mini-libraries & Book boxes. The residents of Clare Street, Oak Bay have been turning Mini lending libraries are popping up around the city as a underused private places into vibrant, public spaces togeth- way to foster literacy and build camaraderie among neigh- er for years now.