Residents in Okotoks’ Drake Landing Solar Community are a tight-knit group and it’s not just about the neighbourhood’s innovative geo-thermal solar energy heating system.
The community hosts an annual solar block party to listen to some live music, hold a giant potluck and generally enjoy their neighbours.
“It’s great to listen to music and get to know your neighbours,” said area resident Jo Grout. “It’s a big social event.”
Grout said the solar community’s annual party has brought area residents together. It has been an annual occurrence since the solar community was completed.
“It just forms a sense of community,” she said. “You know how you can get into your car in the garage in the morning and never see anybody, but this way everybody gets out and you get to know people.”
It is held in a cul-de-sac on Drake Landing Court and will be held on June 18 this year. The event typically includes a live band and barbecue potluck.
However, it’s more than an opportunity to socialize. Grout said it helps boost safety in the area as residents get to know who their neighbours are. In addition, they have also organized tours of the Drake Landing Solar Energy centre.
She encourages other neighbourhoods in town to hold parties.
It’s something the Town of Okotoks is also hoping to see repeated in other areas and to help facilitate the program the Town is offering a local initiative to support block parties.
Marg Cox, Okotoks’ community events liaison, said the Town is willing to help.
“The whole idea is to encourage a safe and caring community and this is one of the ways they can do that by getting to meet their neighbours,” she said.
Cox said the Town has guides available to help groups interested in hosting an event.
People can host parties on public property on residential streets or parks, but they need a permit from the Town to do so. A fee of $10 will be applied to the permit application, which would cover the cost of assistance from the Town, such as setting up barricades or use of additional garbage cans. No permits are needed for events held on private property.
Cox said block parties can help promote safety in Okotoks neighbourhoods.
“Become aware of your neighbourhood, find out what vehicles belong in that neighbourhood, find out people who belong in that neighbourhood,” she said.
Getting to know your neighbours can help make it easier to resolve issues that could arise when people know each other, she said.
They’ve become a popular way for communities in town to get together.
About 35 block parties were registered last year and there were more on private property that didn’t need Town permits, said Cox.
“It is quite high and we’re encouraging that,” she said. “We think it’s a really positive aspect of living in a small community.”
