This is My Neighbourhood - Improvement Projects

Summary

The 'This Is My Neighbourhood' initiative in Calgary has revitalized communities through collaborative efforts. With 14 neighborhoods involved, residents have shaped their environments with over 100 initiatives. Examples include Capitol Hill's 20th Ave Street Lab, promoting active transportation with bicycle lanes and public art; Auburn Bay's fit park, offering recreational facilities; Crossroads' public art project, enhancing community identity; and North Glenmore Park's Community Play Day fostering social connections. The program aims to improve safety, accessibility, and social networks, making Calgary a better city neighborhood by neighborhood.

Takeaways

• 🏙️ 'This Is My Neighbourhood' is a city initiative aimed at enhancing local programs and services in Calgary's neighbourhoods.
• 🤝 The initiative involves collaboration with 14 communities, emphasizing resident participation in shaping their neighbourhoods' futures.
• 🚲 In the Northwest, Capitol Hill focused on inclusivity, connectivity, and pedestrian-friendliness through the 20th Ave Street Lab project.
• 🎨 The Street Lab included temporary public art, entertainment, and safety education to improve community engagement and accessibility.
• 🚴‍♂️ The project in Capitol Hill aimed to increase safety, enhance accessibility, and strengthen the bike network.
• 🌳 Auburn Bay addressed the need for more recreation options by installing a fit park with exercise equipment for residents.
• 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 The fit park in Auburn Bay allows parents to exercise while keeping an eye on their children at the playground.
• 🎭 Crossroads community in the Northeast worked with the city to add public art to enhance the neighbourhood's identity and aesthetics.
• 🎨 'Boundless birds' was the theme chosen for the public art project, involving utility boxes and bins painted by an artist and volunteers.
• 🌳 North Glenmore Park in Southwest aimed to create a vibrant, friendly community with a focus on enjoying green spaces.
• 🤝 A Community Play Day was held to foster community visioning, social interaction, and mutual acquaintance among residents.
• 🌟 The success of the first group of neighbourhoods sets the stage for further improvements in safety and social networks across Calgary.

Q & A

What is the main goal of the 'This Is My Neighbourhood' initiative?

The main goal of the 'This Is My Neighbourhood' initiative is to improve city programs and services in various Calgary neighborhoods and bring the city together in a better way.

How many communities participated in the first phase of the 'This Is My Neighbourhood' initiative?

Fourteen communities participated in the first phase of the 'This Is My Neighbourhood' initiative.

What was the focus of the 20th Ave Street Lab project in Capitol Hill?

The focus of the 20th Ave Street Lab project in Capitol Hill was to create an inclusive, connected, and pedestrian-friendly environment through active transportation enhancements.

What were some of the features introduced in Capitol Hill as part of the street lab project?

Some features introduced in Capitol Hill as part of the street lab project included temporary public art, entertainment, safety education, and enhancements for walking and cycling.

How did the fit park addition in Auburn Bay benefit the community?

The fit park addition in Auburn Bay provided parents with the opportunity to exercise while keeping an eye on their children playing at the playground, and it has become a recreational destination for many residents.

What were the objectives of the Crossroads community's public art initiative?

The objectives of the Crossroads community's public art initiative were to add to the community's identity, create a stronger sense of place, and improve the aesthetics of the neighborhood.

What was the theme of the public art project in the Crossroads community, and who contributed to it?

The theme of the public art project in the Crossroads community was 'boundless birds,' and it involved an artist working with twenty volunteers to paint utility boxes and bins.

What was the purpose of the Community Play Day in North Glenmore Park?

The purpose of the Community Play Day in North Glenmore Park was to bring residents together to contribute to the community vision, enjoy green spaces, and get to know one another.

How did residents feel about the public art initiative in the Crossroads community?

Residents felt that the public art initiative brought the community together, made the neighborhood look more beautiful, and created a sense of pride and positivity.

What are the anticipated outcomes of the 'This Is My Neighbourhood' initiative for the next group of neighborhoods?

The anticipated outcomes for the next group of neighborhoods include safety improvements, stronger social networks, and making Calgary a better city, one neighborhood at a time.

Outlines

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🏙️ Community-Led Urban Improvements

The 'This Is My Neighbourhood' initiative is a city-wide program aimed at enhancing local services and fostering community engagement across 14 neighborhoods in Calgary. Residents have been actively involved in shaping the future of their neighborhoods through over 100 initiatives. One such project in Northwest Calgary, the 20th Ave Street Lab, focused on making Capitol Hill more inclusive and pedestrian-friendly by introducing bicycle lanes, public art, and safety enhancements. The initiative also included a Living Lab concept, allowing residents to experience proposed changes firsthand. In Auburn Bay, a Southeast community, a fit park was installed to address the lack of recreational options, providing a space for parents to exercise while their children play. The Crossroads community in the Northeast worked with the city on a public art project to enhance the neighborhood's identity and aesthetics, using the theme 'boundless birds' to decorate utility boxes and bins. North Glenmore Park in Southwest Calgary hosted a Community Play Day to encourage social interaction and contribute to the community vision.

Keywords

💡This Is My Neighbourhood

This Is My Neighbourhood is a city initiative aimed at improving programs, services, and the quality of life in Calgary's neighborhoods. It emphasizes community involvement in shaping the future of their areas, showcasing the importance of collaboration between residents and the city. The initiative included over 100 projects that addressed various community needs, such as enhancing public spaces, increasing safety, and promoting local identity.

💡Community Vision

Community Vision refers to the collective aspirations and goals of a neighborhood's residents for their local area. In the video, different communities, such as Capitol Hill and Auburn Bay, shared their visions, which guided the specific improvements and projects undertaken by the city. This concept underscores the importance of aligning city projects with the unique desires and needs of each community.

💡Active Transportation

Active Transportation involves modes of transport that require physical activity, such as walking and cycling. The video highlights the 20th Ave Street Lab project in Capitol Hill, where the city collaborated with residents to improve pedestrian and cyclist-friendly infrastructure. This initiative not only enhanced safety but also promoted healthier lifestyles and better accessibility.

💡Fit Park

A Fit Park is an outdoor recreational area equipped with exercise facilities, such as chin-up bars and sit-up benches. In the video, Auburn Bay's residents identified a lack of recreational options, leading to the installation of a fit park. This addition allows parents to exercise while supervising their children, enhancing the community's recreational opportunities and encouraging physical activity.

💡Public Art Initiative

The Public Art Initiative refers to community-driven projects that involve creating and displaying art in public spaces to enhance the neighborhood's identity and aesthetics. In the Crossroads community, residents and the city collaborated with an artist to paint utility boxes and bins with the theme 'boundless birds.' This project fostered a sense of pride, unity, and beauty in the area, transforming ordinary objects into meaningful symbols of community identity.

💡Street Lab

A Street Lab is a temporary installation or experiment in a public space to test new ideas for urban improvement. The 20th Ave Street Lab in Capitol Hill was designed to explore active transportation options, such as bike lanes and pedestrian pathways. This approach allowed residents to experience proposed changes firsthand, providing valuable feedback and ensuring that the final designs met community needs.

💡Safety Improvements

Safety Improvements refer to changes made to enhance the security and well-being of community members. In the video, various projects under the This Is My Neighbourhood initiative focused on increasing safety, such as improving pedestrian and cycling infrastructure. These efforts aimed to make neighborhoods more secure, fostering a greater sense of comfort and confidence among residents.

💡Community Play Day

Community Play Day is an event that brings residents together to engage in recreational activities and discuss their community's future. The video mentions a play day hosted by the North Glenmore Park Community Association, where over 60 attendees contributed to the neighborhood's vision. Such events promote social interaction, strengthen community bonds, and ensure that residents have a voice in shaping their local environment.

💡Inclusivity

Inclusivity refers to the practice of ensuring that all community members, regardless of background or ability, are considered and involved in local initiatives. Capitol Hill, as highlighted in the video, aimed to be an inclusive, connected, and pedestrian-friendly neighborhood. The emphasis on inclusivity in the This Is My Neighbourhood initiative reflects the city's commitment to creating spaces that cater to the diverse needs of all its residents.

💡Community Identity

Community Identity is the unique character and sense of belonging that defines a neighborhood. The Crossroads community in the video sought to strengthen its identity through a public art project that involved painting utility boxes. By engaging residents in this creative process, the initiative helped reinforce a shared sense of place and pride, making the community more recognizable and cohesive.

Highlights

This Is My Neighbourhood is a city initiative aimed at improving programs and services in neighbourhoods and fostering community cohesion.

Fourteen communities in Calgary were involved in shaping the future of their neighbourhoods and enhancing their quality of life.

Over 100 initiatives were part of the This Is My Neighbourhood project.

Capitol Hill in the Northwest focused on inclusivity, connectivity, and pedestrian friendliness through the 20th Ave Street Lab project.

Community consultation was key in the 20th Ave Street Lab project, with ideas like bicycle lanes and public art being proposed.

The Living Lab concept allowed residents to experience and provide feedback on city proposals, such as pedestrian improvements.

The street lab initiative increased safety, improved accessibility, and created a stronger bike network.

Auburn Bay, a Southeast community, addressed the limited recreation options by installing a fit park with exercise equipment.

The fit park in Auburn Bay provides an opportunity for parents to exercise while their children play at the playground.

The Crossroads community in the Northeast worked on a public art initiative to enhance the neighbourhood's identity and sense of place.

Public art projects in Crossroads, such as painting utility boxes, brought the community together and improved aesthetics.

North Glenmore Park in Southwest aimed to create a vibrant, locally focused, and friendly community with a focus on green spaces.

A Community Play Day at North Glenmore Park Community Association engaged over 60 attendees in community visioning and social interaction.

The success of the first group of communities has inspired anticipation for the next 14 neighbourhoods to participate in the initiative.

The initiative's impact includes safety improvements and the creation of better social networks, contributing to a better city.

This Is My Neighbourhood is proud of its work, which started with fourteen neighbourhoods and will continue to strengthen community and city collaboration.

Transcripts

This Is My Neighbourhood is an exciting City initiative created to improve city programs

and services in our neighbourhoods and bring our city together in a better way. Working

with fourteen communities, Calgary residents had the chance to shape the future of their

neighbourhood and improve their quality of life. Over 100 initiatives were part of This

Is My Neighbourhood - here are a few examples.

In the Northwest, we worked with Capitol Hill –a neighbourhood that wanted to be inclusive,

connected and pedestrian friendly. The City of Calgary came together with residents to

explore active transportation in the community through the 20th Ave Street Lab project.

I like the fact that they're consulting the community. I like the ideas of a bicycle lane,

public art and making it more pedestrian friendly.

I like the Living Lab idea, that people can see, feel and touch what The City's proposing

and I think it's a great idea.

Working towards their community vision, the street lab included temporary public art,

entertainment, safety education, and walking and cycling enhancements. The initiative increased

safety, improved accessibility and created a stronger bike network.

Auburn Bay, a Southeast community was also part of the project. As part of their vision,

residents shared that recreation options were limited in the neighbourhood. As a result,

a fit park consisting of a chin-up bar and sit-up bench was installed.

This addition to the community provides parents with the opportunity to exercise while keeping

an eye on their children who were playing at the playground. The fit park has now become

a recreational destination for many Auburn Bay residents.

In the Northeast, we worked with the Crossroads community which includes the neighbourhoods

of Mayland Heights and Vista Heights. These neighbourhoods wanted to add to its identity

and create a stronger sense of place. The City worked with community members on a fun

public art initiative.

I think it's brought us together. I got to meet a lot of new people.

It makes my community look pretty. Makes it look beautiful.

They're definitely an eye-catcher instead of an eyesore when you drive by or walk by

or bike by.

Together, residents and The City selected an artist who would help create a sense of

identity, pride and positivity within the neighbourhood. Using the theme “boundless

birds”, the artist and twenty volunteers painted utility boxes and bins, which helped

identify and unite the neighbourhood, and improve the aesthetics.

In Calgary’s Southwest, North Glenmore Park

wanted to create a vibrant, locally focused, friendly community where residents could enjoy

their green spaces.

The City hosted a Community Play Day at the North Glenmore Park Community Association.

More than 60 attendees took part in the day, contributed to the community vision and had

the opportunity to get to know one another.

With the success we’ve experienced with the first group of communities, we can’t

wait to see what we’ll achieve with the next 14 neighbourhoods. From safety improvements

to creating better social networks, we have the chance to make Calgary a better city,

one neighbourhood at a time. We’re proud of the work we’ve done through

the This Is My Neighbourhood initiative. It started with fourteen neighbourhoods – and

will only continue to strengthen the way we work together, and live together.