Making it Easier to Host Block Parties

THE EXPERIMENT

If you want to take civic action, host a block party. This is the call from Mayor Wu. However, hosting a block party takes effort. It takes time to organize your community and it takes time to get permits. All that before you get to the fun stuff. We are setting out to deliver a faster, clearer, and improved Block Party experience for Bostonians. To do this, our team made it easier for residents and community groups to host a block party by:

1.  streamlining the permit application process. We partnered with several City departments to simplify the application form and streamline the review process.
2.  clearly communicating how to apply. We updated the City’s block party webpage to better describe the steps involved and how to host a successful block party.
3.  encouraging residents to host block parties. We partnered with the Office of Civic Organizing to establish Spooky Streets in Boston and encouraged Boston residents to create fun and safe environments for their families and neighbors during the Halloween and Harvest season.
4.  making more enjoyable. During the summers of 2022 and 2023, we offered Block Party Kits to hosts to make block party festivities more delightful and easier to plan for.

WHY WE'RE DOING THIS

• We wanted to test whether service improvements, clearer instructions, constituent support, and delightful incentives to an existing permit process would increase the number of applications received and lead to a more equitable distribution of activities.
• We wanted to build on Mayor Wu’s commitment to the Block Party as a connector of our civic fabric, especially after the pandemic and in an increasingly divided democracy.

WHAT WE'VE  LEARNED

• A streamlined Block Party Play Street Closing permit reduced the burden on City staff, resulted in faster application review, and provided a better experience for residents.
• A clearer online process and engaged constituent services team (Office of Neighborhood Services, 311, Office of Civic Organizing) increased Block Party applications and approvals across the city.
• Block Party Grants, currently offered through the Office of Civic Organizing, have increased access to and interest in block parties across Boston and reduced the burden on party hosts.
• In 2024, the Office of Civic Organizing expanded its block party grant program to include Spooky Streets, making it easier than ever for residents to host Halloween-themed block parties. In October 2024, we were delighted to approve 121 Spooky Streets in Boston, a 227% increase from the 37 we approved in 2023.
• While Block Party play kits initially made planning more enjoyable for organizers, unfortunately, numerous missing and broken pieces made the program unsustainable, and we had to phase out the kits.