52 Weeks of Neighboring - 10/3

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Tip of the Week – Have a picnic in a neighborhood park.

While the week in Wichita started out rainy and a little droopy, the sun has come out and we’re ready for a picnic. Having a picnic in your neighborhood park is a great neighboring experiment for a few reasons:

  • It gets you out and makes you visible. During your picnic, you may have the opportunity to chat with neighbors you know or even meet neighbors you don’t know. Even if you don’t get the chance to have a conversation with someone from your community, having a picnic in the park makes you more approachable to your neighbors who may recognize you.
  • Having a picnic in the park also allows you to enjoy a public space. Enjoying a public space is an important aspect of neighboring. So important, in fact, we made it the tip of the week just a few short weeks ago. You can check out that blog here.
  • Finally, a picnic in the park can help change perceptions in your neighborhood. As an observer, it’s hard to be negative about your neighborhood when you see a family or group of friends enjoying a nice day with a picnic. Ever so slightly, you can change a bystander’s opinion of the neighborhood by offering a positive example of neighborhood interaction and opening them up to the possibilities their neighborhood can offer.

So pack some sandwiches, load up your cooler, and maybe even a yard game or two. If you participate in this neighboring experiment, don’t forget to snap a picture of your fun and share it with us via Facebook or Twitter.

Happy neighboring!