While being a good neighbor that’s considerate of others within the community is a good place to start, there are greater ways to improve the neighborhood that will have bigger impacts. By endeavoring to propose changes and additions, you can make a real, tangible change to the neighborhood that will benefit both you and your neighbors.
Add a Public Playground
If your neighborhood hosts a lot of families or wants to attract more families to the area, then adding a public playground is a fantastic addition. Los Angeles can sometimes feel suffocating from how much of a concrete jungle it is, but playgrounds can improve mental health by nurturing plants, providing a place for kids to play and exercise, and give parents a place to meet and socialize. These playgrounds have the added benefit of raising the property value of the surrounding area as an amenity.
Start a Community Art Project
Speaking of concrete, all that grey can be incredibly drab and oppressive. If removing some of it to add natural features to the neighborhood isn’t viable, you can start a community art project to breathe some life into the community. Blank concrete walls are the perfect canvas for a community mural while community-made statues and other art pieces can be displayed around the neighborhood to show off your community’s culture and make the area more visually interesting.
Prioritize Local Businesses
While large brands are often alluring for the many conveniences they offer, one of the best ways to improve the neighborhood is by making it a point to patronize local businesses. If small businesses can thrive in your community, it will generate income and interest for the area that can be used to make further improvements to the community. There’s nothing more depressing than rows and rows of abandoned and dilapidated buildings. It’s often unsightly and tends to drive people out of the community.
Organize a Block Party
Hosting block parties is an ideal opportunity for residents to socialize and allow the community to become closer. New residents will welcome the ability to meet and socialize with their neighbors in a relaxed setting and make the community look livelier and more welcoming. Crime will also decrease if everyone in the neighborhood knows one another and is willing to help each other as necessary. Besides, nothing pulls people together like good food.
