By Joe Jarosz
Northeast News
September 17, 2014

KANSAS CITY, Missouri – What better way to get people outside than to schedule an entire day’s worth of activities in your neighborhood?

From 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 20, the Pendleton Heights Neighborhood Association is hosting the first Better Block event in the Northeast. The event has been held several times around the Kansas City area in the past. The daylong event includes temporarily transforming a block of Lexington Avenue into a more active, outdoor-friendly area.

Jessica Ray, president of the Pendleton Height’s Neighborhood Association, said the purpose of the event is to calm traffic in the area and create a more shared access for bike lanes and pedestrians along sidewalks. During the afternoon of events, the block will include bike lanes and cafe tables to better demonstrate what the area could look like if it were better utilized for walkings instead of driving.

“We have a lot of people who walk or bike in our neighborhood but we could always see more,” Ray said.

Along with creating the shared access for bike lanes, crosswalks and sidewalk improvements, the goal is to also utilize total road design mechanisms and find creative ways to address perceived and real safety issues. According to its website, the Better Block event is part block party, part charrette that shows, by transformation, the potential of the block to be a walkable, vibrant neighborhood. The transformation include temporary trees, lighting and landscaping.

Starting at 11 a.m., the event begins with a community bike ride, peddling off from Lexington and Brooklyn Avenues. Following the community ride, the event includes a tour of the community garden, live music, activities for children and a tree planting at the community orchard. Area restaurants will also be open for lunch. Ray said all activities are free and encourages people to bring their whole family.

“We’ve done a great job of getting people out and walking within the community but it is a cultural thing, too,” Ray said. “The Better Block events are movements pointing towards less reliance on vehicles and offering more ways to get around.”