Creating Better Blocks in Wilmington and Laurel
July 30 – We have two chances this week – in two different Delaware cities – to rediscover the lost art of creating great public spaces.
Both Wilmington and Laurel will be hosting “Better Block” events to help re-imagine parts of their communities as bike-friendly blocks complete with pop-up businesses, landscaping, parks, outdoor seating, arts and entertainment!
In Wilmington, West Side Grows Together will be hosting their 2nd Better Block for the 500 & 600 blocks of North Union Street by adding landscaping, outdoor seating, public art, performance spaces, interactive activities and other features to create a more engaging, pedestrian friendly area. To get an idea of what this looks like, check out this incredibly cool video from their 2014 Better Block:
Better Block Wilmington 2015!
The day after Wilmington’s Better Block, the Town of Laurel, the Laurel Redevelopment Corporation, the Delaware Economic Development Office, the University of Delaware (and others!) will be sponsoring a Better Block Community Walk & Talk (August 6) and Workshop (August 7) in Laurel.
Whether you are in New Castle County (Wilmington) or Sussex County (Laurel), there is a “Better Block” this week near you.
Carol Ireland is a bicycle advocate.
RELATED:
• Better Block Wilmington 2015 (Facebook page)
• Laurel Better Block Community Walk & Talk and Workshop
• Better Block Wilmington 2014 (YouTube video)
• Better Block Wilmington Brings New Life to Union Street (2014)
2 Responses
This sounds interesting but what does it have to do with cycling? How about endorsing rumble strips on rt 24 and nine foot road in Sussex.
We temporarily laid down (to my knowledge) the only bike lane in the City of Wilmington! We saw about five users before we even finished painting the whole thing. A kid rode by and said “Come on, you’re only doing two blocks?!” – limited connectivity but its a cool gesture.
http://i.imgur.com/O0SBbSM.jpg