Zen and the Art of Community Maintenance

The Sweet Sound of Open Streets

Drawing of a happy rowhome by an enthusiastic neighbor

Thousands of Philly folks filled city streets on a beautiful fall Sunday recently, and it was peaceful, relaxing even. Couples lounged in chairs, a uniformed officer and a woman holding a toddler took turns at a double Dutch rope, children giggled as they dashed off the curbs.

The car-free scene may not be the stereotypical image of Philadelphians in the street (after all, no poles needed to be greased), but it’s becoming common in Center City. There have been 19 “Open Streets” days in a little over a year, and organizers are working hard to make each event more cost-effective and scalable than the last so they can continue.

Turning a normally congested area into a temporary pedestrian-only corridor gives locals and tourists alike the chance to experience the city without the din and danger of vehicles. There are certainly benefits to local businesses – most have reported increased foot traffic and sales. But, for me, the most enjoyable part was the surprising level of peace that gave me the opportunity to really look around. Sound volume decreased by half and loud honking, smelly exhaust, and agitated drivers disappeared. Having the chance to really see the historic buildings I’ve always breezed by or listen to a busker, without being worried about vehicles, was a breath of fresh air.

I was there to meet a group for a walking tour of some of Philly’s new placemaking endeavors. In my opinion, there can never be enough of these. The lack of affordable places to interact with others is a real issue in our increasingly isolated and distrustful society. People need space and safety to simply be around others before they can start to build any sort of connections. The joy and sunshine I saw on that Sunday created an atmosphere that couldn’t help but make anyone who wandered through it feel more connected to the neighborhood and those around them.

If cities, towns, and communities of all sizes want to reverse trends in isolation and polarization, increased investment in these types of public activities is essential. They are unfortunately becoming untenable in many Philadelphia area neighborhoods, so we need action from local leaders. Something we can all do, however, is to choose to participate. Whether that is taking a turn jumping rope, plopping down next to a stranger, or simply strolling by (maybe without headphones!), residents need to do their part in supporting Open Streets and similar events and staying connected IRL to their neighborhoods.

Thanks for reading,

Shannon