Many of us find ourselves living in communities defined not by common acquaintances, knowledge and culture, but by geography or economics. Rather than knowing our neighbors from childhood, we may not know our neighbors at all. To create a sense of community, it’s often necessary to bring people together so they can get to know one another. By creating spaces where members of a neighborhood can mix naturally (at a safe distance), communities can become communities in the true meaning of the word — places where people not only live together, but care about and watch out for one another.
Here are some ideas to help foster interaction with your neighbors on your sidewalk, in your front yard, on your walkway and on your front porch.
Here are some ideas to help foster interaction with your neighbors on your sidewalk, in your front yard, on your walkway and on your front porch.
1. Shade the Sidewalk
Consider placing a tree where it will shade the sidewalk to help create a pleasant environment and encourage walking and visiting among neighbors. Trees provide rain and sun protection, and temperature differentials of 5 to 15 degrees are felt when walking on tree-canopied streets. In urban areas trees help mitigate the heat-island effect and provide a connection to nature.
Most cities require permits for adding trees to a parkway (or hell strip), but permits are not usually required for planting on private property.
Consider placing a tree where it will shade the sidewalk to help create a pleasant environment and encourage walking and visiting among neighbors. Trees provide rain and sun protection, and temperature differentials of 5 to 15 degrees are felt when walking on tree-canopied streets. In urban areas trees help mitigate the heat-island effect and provide a connection to nature.
Most cities require permits for adding trees to a parkway (or hell strip), but permits are not usually required for planting on private property.
3. Try the Funnel Effect
Increasing the width of your home’s central path or stairway can help create a welcoming path to your door. Here, tiled stairs are double the width of the home’s porch opening to help direct movement upward. The stairs’ deep risers also double as seating. Full of color and texture, low-water greenery is planted at an angle and carefully tiered to keep the views to the neighborhood open.
Increasing the width of your home’s central path or stairway can help create a welcoming path to your door. Here, tiled stairs are double the width of the home’s porch opening to help direct movement upward. The stairs’ deep risers also double as seating. Full of color and texture, low-water greenery is planted at an angle and carefully tiered to keep the views to the neighborhood open.
4. Light the Way
This one is a no-brainer. A means of welcoming visitors to your home at night, good lighting also adds to safety and to the attractiveness of a front garden.
When lighting the front walk, take care to eliminate pools of light and darkness, which can be a hazard, particularly for older visitors. The goal is to have the walk evenly illuminated.
This one is a no-brainer. A means of welcoming visitors to your home at night, good lighting also adds to safety and to the attractiveness of a front garden.
When lighting the front walk, take care to eliminate pools of light and darkness, which can be a hazard, particularly for older visitors. The goal is to have the walk evenly illuminated.
5. Create Interest With Plants
What you would like the experience of your front garden to be for your friends and neighbors? Richly textured planting designs help define the mood of the garden. Consider using plants that are either native or adapted to the region in which your home is located. This can help tie your garden to your region, giving it an all-important sense of place, and make it more sustainable at the same time.
What you would like the experience of your front garden to be for your friends and neighbors? Richly textured planting designs help define the mood of the garden. Consider using plants that are either native or adapted to the region in which your home is located. This can help tie your garden to your region, giving it an all-important sense of place, and make it more sustainable at the same time.
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