City of Cambridge Participatory Budgeting

Committee: Culture & Community Facilities

Cost: $81,000

Location: Residents to request as needed

Short Description: A vehicle or trailer, equipped with supplies needed for bringing neighbors together at outdoor block parties.

Long Description: Block parties are designed to unite neighbors, strengthen communities, help promote safety, improve communication, and celebrate collective efforts within the community. When community members apply for a block party permit, they can also sign up to borrow the trailer and equipment from the City.

This project will be beneficial in neighborhoods with low-income residents, especially households/families with youth and young adults like Area IV and areas with a large concentration of seniors, during favorable weather conditions. A stronger sense of community could subsequently attract more people to the neighborhood and invariably increase property values and reputation.

The block party trailer/vehicle would come equipped with:

• Commercial charcoal grill
• Tiki torches
• No Parking signs (portable barricades)
• Portable sound system with microphone and stands (for announcements and music)
• Traffic safety cones (to block street ends)
• Pop-up shade canopies/tents
• Folding tables and chairs
• Sports equipment and games
• Trash and recycling receptacles
• Ice chests
• Popcorn machine
• Snow-cone machine
• Drink coolers
• Generator
• First aid kit
• Fire extinguisher