The City of Portland and the Mt. Scott-Arleta Neighborhood Association made planning a block party this summer easier (and cheaper) than ever before. If you plan ahead, you can take over the street for a few hours of games, cookouts and connecting with neighbors.
There are numerous resources for making your block party easy to organize, full of ways to build community, and easy on our environment, too!
Use the resources out there now
Check the great party planning and permitting resources provided online by the City of Portland Bureau of Transportation that make it easy (and now, free!) to close your street for your block party. Start by visiting PBOT’s Block Party website (www.pbotblockparty.com) to get the basics down, and apply for your free permit online. Southeast Uplift, our Neighborhood Coalition, has some great resources too.
Borrow the barriers instead of renting
If you’re in the MSANA Neighborhood Boundaries, sign up to borrow the barriers the City requires for closing a street. (No rental fees, just return them when you’re done!) Currently, they’re available almost every weekend this summer. Fill out our online signup form to reserve the barriers.
PBOT also began offering its “Pink Barricade” lending program to our neighborhood this year. If the MSANA’s are already committed on your date, you have another option. Learn more about PBOT’s lending program…
Make the gathering green!
Cut the waste, prevent the plastic, and incorporate things that get the kids enjoying the nature our neighborhoods afford — use this Green Block Parties guide for some fun ideas. The City of Portland also has ideas from a local artist…
Be part of National Night Out
If you want to host your block party as an official National Night Out event, this year it’s on August 6th; host your NNO party anytime between Aug. 2 – 11. The deadline to sign up your event is Tue., July 23rd. The City of Portland has instructions on how to do that at www.portlandoregon.gov/oni/nno. This is a great option if you want police/firefighters to stop by your event to meet neighbors, want to have amplified music or something else that would normally require a noise permit, or want our city Crime Prevention staff to share information with neighbors.
The Mt. Scott-Arleta Neighborhood Association wants to share our neighbors’ community projects, nonprofit services, or learning opportunities at upcoming General Meetings!