Residents in New Orleans are encouraged to think creatively about St. Claude Avenue. The result? More trees along the street. Photo by St. Claude Main Street via Facebook.
If it was easier for citizens to create the neighborhood spaces they want most, what would they choose?
Crowdfunding of public assets gives us a hint. Independent films, art projects and small companies have all used crowdfunding to get off the ground and now residents are using the strategy to create the public spaces they want to see. As Haya El Nasser explains in USA Today:
Crowdfunding is the cyberpractice of pooling individuals’ money for a cause, [and] it’s now spreading to public spaces and other community projects. The global reach and speed of the Internet are raising not just money but awareness and galvanizing communities.
Websites like Neighborland, Neighbor.ly, Change by Us and Citizinvestor all make investing in public spaces easy, and the results are prime examples of smart growth strategies in action.
In New Orleans, LA, residents wanted more trees on St. Claude Avenue. In Tampa, FL, residents want to reenergize Massey Park. In Denver, CO, residents want to turn a parking lot into an outdoor classroom. And in San Francisco, CA, residents wanted better signs for walking downtown.
Giving residents ways to speak out about what they want to see happen in their town or neighborhood is a key part of smart growth development, and this grassroots movement can serve as a model for public officials everywhere. These examples show that residents want a chance to shape where they live. Town and city leaders can capitalize on that by creating easy, engaging ways for residents to speak out about what they want.
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