Neighborday is a great way to promote placemaking

At The Bernice Garden, we’re all about “placemaking,” a concept that’s on the rise around the country and the world – one that means, roughly, repairing and reclaiming places or neighborhoods that have been ignored or neglected and turning them into vibrant communities where residents are neighborly, streets are walkable and people are passionate about what’s going on.

We’ll have much more to come on placemaking, but today is mainly a reminder that Saturday, April 27, has been declared “Neighborday” by the very cool folks at good.is.

Those of us who live near The Bernice Garden have many outlets for being neighborly, with one of them being the Garden itself. Seems there’s always something nice to attend, or something coming up soon. (And don’t forget, you can rent the Garden for a private party  or event and create your own something nice.)

We also have the wonderful Quapaw Quarter Garden Club, which is less about gardening and more about socializing with neighbors who become friends. We have Historic Preservation Alliance events to attend and the wonderful lecture series at the Clinton School of Public Service.

But, still, many of us don’t know our neighbors, even in our cozy little South Main area, and Neighborday would be a great opportunity to meet some of them. Just walk across the street (or hall), knock on a door and say “Howdy-do.”

Or take a plate of cookies or a pie, like our moms did in the good old days.

Or do like my good friend and neighbor Julia and I are going to do and take a stroll to The Bernice Garden – and stop and introduce yourself to everyone you pass. Some may think you’re nuts, but, nothing ventured, nothing gained.

You  might gain a new friend.

We’ll have props, in the form of precious grandbabies, a sure way to get neighborly attention. Dogs work too.

But your best accessories will be openness and a smile.

Here’s to a Happy Neighborday! May you meet someone new and enjoy it.