Representatives from 12 Walla Walla neighborhoods met on April 9 at the Blue Mt. Mall Community Room to form the Walla Walla Area Block Watch Council. The council will be open to members of all organized block watches in the Walla Walla-College Place urban area; also, residents of unorganized neighborhoods are invited to attend council meetings to find out about organizing.

The purposes of the council are

• to share strategies and experience with other neighbhorhoods
• to communicate neighborhood needs to public officials
• to provide resources to help neighborhoods organize
• to obtain current information from police and other agencies
• to help find ways to strengthen our neighborhoods and our community.

The council plans a series of programs focussing on a variety of topics, including neighborhood graffiti removal, cleanup of problem houses, street closures for block parties, relations with neighborhood juveniles, and other matters of interest or concern for the creation of strong, healthy neighborhoods.

Initial council officers are Daniel Clark from the North Main Area Neighborhood Association, chair; Lula Belle Washington from the West Maple Street Block Watch, vice-chair, and Vicky Scanlon, NMANA, secretary.

SO YOU’D LIKE TO START A NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION!

Why?

Crime Watch/Security

Clean up/Fix up

Tree Planting

Get to know and enjoy your neighbors better

Better municipal services (such as lighting, street repair)

Mutual help, and assistance for the elderly and disabled

Kids get along better

It’s a lot of fun!

Who?

Everyone in your neighborhood

What is your neighborhood, what are its boundaries, its identity?

How large an area can you handle?

How?

Start with a handful of interested people

Call an initial meeting at your home or another convenient place

Be open and flexible, but have an agenda of questions to be addressed

Brainstorm the kinds of things an association might do in your neighborhood

Where to start? Maybe create and distribute a neighborhood questionaire.

A street party is a great way to get everyone together.

At the party, you can announce the survey results & have signups for committees.

Where can I get help?

Some cities provide support services for neighborhood associations (materials, advice)

Try the Crime Prevention Office of the Walla Walla Police Department, 525-3342.

The W.W. Co. Dept. of Human Services has some materials, 527-3278.

The North Main Area Neighborhood Association has a good packet of materials, 522-0399.

If you can’t find what you need, contact Walla Walla 2020, P.O. Box 1222, W.W. WA 99362.

Questions or Comments about Architecture and Neighborhoods Committee, please write to: Dan Clark clarkdb@bmi.net

For more neighborhood information, check out:

Seattle Community Network--Neighborhoods

Architecture and Neighborhoods page

Architecture Awards

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