Richmond city councillor Carol Day admits they may seem a bit “silly” but she’s hoping her idea to map out neighbourhoods and install unique signage at each one can catalyze more “community spirit.”
Day, who runs a signage business, says the signs are an extension of her 2014 council campaign to “enhance” neighbourhoods, whereby she spells out a 22-step plan to foster more neighbourly interaction.
With her feet now wet at Richmond City Hall, Day says the plan has been discussed with some city staff, however it’s a matter of getting it off and running, as well as garnering support from fellow councillors.
“I have talked to people in the community that have been quite receptive and I feel it is an achievable goal,” says Day.
She hasn’t made any official presentation to council or been able to create a referral, but Day has designed some preliminary logos for many of Richmond’s neighbourhoods, each with a theme.
“What I’d like to do is recognize each neighbourhood boundary,” says Day, noting the signs wouldn’t cost much and materials could be gathered from the city’s works yard.
Day wants to see a revitalization of neighbourhood message centres, such as the one in Burkeville.
“I don’t think it will cost all that much. We can get local artists and business sponsors for the centres,” she says.
At each message centre, such as the one at Burkeville, neighbours are invited to post messages such as for-sale items, services available and neighbourhood events (garage sales, park barbeques). Each message centre could be complimented by neighbourhood-specific social media sites, with the city helping to organize each site.
Day hopes local sports groups, Block Watch volunteers, community organizations (such as Cubs or Brownies) and entities such as the Richmond RCMP and ICBC would also utilize the message centres.
An ideal message centre would also include sitting benches and mini gardens, says Day.
Once a neighbourhood logo is approved, t-shirts, buttons and hats could be sold with profits going back into neighbourhood-specific events and programs.
