As the weather gets warmer and the days get longer, it’s time to think about organizing a block party.
Doling neighbors have the unique opportunity to have an amazing party for the residents of their block, thanks to a grant from the Community Foundation of the Ozarks that paid for the Doling Neighborhood Association Block Party Toolkit, complete with tables, chairs, a grill, a snow cone maker, tons of games and even a bounce house.
And it is all free to the folks in the Doling neighborhood.
“It’s a great way to get to know your neighbors,” said PAR Officer Chris Laughlin, Doling’s community cop. Laughlin will stop by your block party and help give an informative presentation about Block Watch, a way to keep everyone safe by looking out for our neighbors.
Linda Clark was one of the first Doling residents to take advantage of the tool kit and organize a block party for her neighbors around West Kerr Street. With at least 60 people attending, nearly every house in the neighborhood was represented.
“I knew the neighbors would come,” said Clark. “I wanted to get to know my neighbors.” One big surprise was to discover connections between neighbors that sometimes go back generations. It is an old neighborhood, with folks who have lived there their whole lives.
Diana Flannigan met a neighbor who is in the same fishing club as her son, Scott. Since the block party, neighbors know each other by face, by name and even by special interests, she said.
But the most important thing that came out of the party is that “we look out for each other,” said Clark. “We have a phone connection going. We are more alert.”
So, when Alan and Dawn Edes purchased land along Kerr last fall and started building a home, the neighbors were quick to introduce themselves and welcome the Edes family to the neighborhood. And when two suspicious fires claimed their storage building and travel trailer, the neighbors stepped up.
Neighbors bought food, set up a fund raiser, and have kept a close eye on the property to make sure it doesn’t happen again. “It was the first time total strangers showed such love,” said Edes.
That is the power of a block party.
But it’s full of fun, too!
The $22,500 grant allowed the neighborhood association to purchase a self-contained, enclosed trailer to hold everything needed to host a successful and fun block party.
All you have to do is go to doling.setmore.com. There, you will be able to schedule a date for your party. Once the reservation is confirmed, you will receive an information packet along with invitations to deliver to all your neighbors. The neighborhood association can help you get a special event permit to block off your street, if you choose to do that.
On the day of the party, your Block Party Tool Kit will be delivered. The trailer will include tables, chairs, tents, a snow cone machine and supplies, a grill and all its equipment, drink dispensers, extension cords, a fire extinguisher, first aid kit, coolers and more. You can even request a popcorn popper with supplies and a movie projector and screen.
There are enough games included to make anyone happy and keep everyone busy, and the kids will love the Ninja Jump Bounce House.
While neighbors are encouraged to bring dishes to share with each other, the kit includes 40 hotdogs and buns, 40 burgers and buns, cheese slices, condiments and even paper plates, napkins and plastic silverware.
It can’t get any easier to throw a successful block party. But you might want to add some of your own excitement, too.
That’s what Clark did when she invited some friends who have a band to perform for the event. She is going to host another block party this year. “The band wants to do another one, too,” she said.
If watching the crocus bloom and the redbuds popping out has you thinking about spring and summer, it’s time for you to start planning your block party.
Just gather a few of your neighbors to help with the planning, pick a date and a location, and the Block Party Tool Kit will provide everything you need to have the best party ever.
What’s in the trailer
EQUIPMENT
• Tables and Chairs
• Pop Up Tents
• Snow Cone Machine
• Grill and Utensils
• Drink Dispensers
• Extension cords and power strip
• Fire Extinguisher
• First Aid kit
• Coolers
SUPPLIES
• Hamburgers, Hot Dogs
• Buns and Condiments
• Cheese Slices
• Paper Plates & Napkins
• Plastic Silverware
• Sno Cone Cups, Syrup
• Sterno
• Propane
• Cleaning Kit
• Paper Towels
GAMES
• Bounce House
• Giant Jenga
• Corn Hole
• Burlap Sacks
• Sidewalk Chalk
• Four Square Ball
• Giant Connect Four
• Bingo
• Washers
• Ladderball
• Bocce Ball
• Kickball and Bases
• Pickleball
• Bumper balls
• Lawn bowling
• Flag Football
• Soccer Balls and Goals
• Giant Scrabble
How to Reserve the Trailer
1. Go to doling.setmore.com
2. After reading booking policy, click “OK”
3. Click “Block Party” under “Choose Service”
4. Select your date and click “9:00 am.” This is just a place holder. You will be able to choose your party begin and end time when you register.
5. Click the red “Create New Profile” button.
6. Enter your name, email and create a password.”
7. Click “Create Profile”
8. Fill in your phone number, address and party start and end time. Please note, if your address is not located within the Doling Neighborhood boundaries, your reservation will be cancelled.
9. Once we have your reservation request, we will send you a confirmation email with further instructions and to coordinate a time to get the trailer to you. We are all volunteers, so please be patient with us. We will reply, but it may be 24-48 hours.
Once Your Reservation is Confirmed:
By making the reservation, you are considered the Block Captain. You will be our point of contact for the party and for the Springfield Police Officer who will help you to set up a Block Watch. You will receive an information packet along with invitations to deliver to your neighbors. You must invite all households in your designated block area.
The purpose of the bock party trailer is to get neighbors together and get to know one another. Excluding neighbors will not be tolerated and will result in your reservation being cancelled. If you want to close off your street, you will need to file for a Special Events Permit through the city. Please contact the neighborhood association so we can help you with this. You can NOT block a street without the required permit.
On the day of your block party, we will deliver the Block Party Tool Kit to you. Make sure you have recruited several volunteers to help you set up the party and clean equipment and pack trailer up after.
Funding provided by Community Foundation of the Ozarks