Better Block Foundation

For our next #BetterBlockBop, let’s dive into how design and creativity can shape a vibrant third place. In New Kensington, we transformed this block by painting a bold wall mural, playful bump-outs, and vibrant crosswalks – all inspired by the YMCA colors, the City of New Kensington logo, and the flow of the Allegheny River. We added placemaking touches like planting sunflowers, using painted Tyvek panels to reimagine a brick wall, building a custom Wikiblock stage for entertainment, and turning repurposed tires into unique seating areas. Each detail reflects the community’s input, sparking not just new ideas, but also ongoing conversations about how this space can grow into a welcoming place where people can come together! #BetterBlock #BetterBlockNewKen #NewKensington #Pittsburgh #UrbanDesign #Placemaking #ThirdSpace #TacticalUrbanism #BetterBlockInABox #Community #Wikiblock Richard King Mellon Foundation VALLEY POINTS FAMILY YMCA Penn State New Kensington (The Pennsylvania State University)

Get ready for the Better Block - Greater Hazelwood Kickoff Event! Join us on October 26th at 4915 Second Avenue from 11 AM to 3 PM for a vibrant celebration of community, art, and innovation. Expect a colorful ground mural, ADA-friendly Wikiblock furniture, plenty of greenery, interactive activities, and local vendors bringing the space to life. This event is a collaboration between Hazelwood Initiative, Inc., Center of Life, and the Greater Hazelwood Community Collaborative - GHCC, with support from the Richard King Mellon Foundation. Be part of this exciting transformation as we reimagine how public space can enhance community engagement and bring people together. Learn more and get involved at betterblock.org/hazelwood! #BetterBlock #UrbanDesign #Placemaking #ThirdSpace #TacticalUrbanism #BetterBlockInABox #Hazelwood #GreaterHazelwood #Pittsburgh #Community #Wikiblock #BetterBlockHazelwood #BetterBlockGreaterHazelwood

Last week, we had the pleasure of hosting Charles Marohn, founder and president of Strong Towns, at Better Block! As an author, land-use planner, and municipal engineer, Marohn has been a leading voice in advocating for resilient communities by promoting the development of walkable, people-first spaces. We’ll be partnering with Strong Towns for a special workshop on October 31 as part of the #LocalMotive2024 series. During this session, we’ll dive into practical strategies for creating third places - public spaces that bring people together, foster community connections, and support local businesses. If you’re interested in learning more, visit the link below for more information and to RSVP: https://lnkd.in/gcwdQeWM #BetterBlock #StrongTowns #UrbanDesign #Placemaking #ThirdSpace #SocialSpaces #TacticalUrbanism #ChuckMarohn

“Now, therefore, I, Councilman Narvaez, on behalf of Mayor Eric Johnson, do hereby proclaim September 30- October 6, 2024 as Week Without Driving in Dallas, Texas, and I encourage all people in Dallas to join me in this special observance.” Council Member Narvaez announced the proclamation, making it official - #WeekWithoutDriving has been formally recognized by the City of Dallas! This is a big win for the Dallas community and a step forward in creating a more inclusive, accessible transit system. A huge shoutout to the Dallas Bicycle Coalition, all the local organizations, and for those who participated in the campaign for putting in countless hours advocating for safer streets and better transit options for the city. These efforts are paving the way for a more walkable, bike-able, and connected city. Also, we're in love with this custom Wikiblock picture frame designed by Better Block's Architectural Designer! Mark your calendars for next year’s challenge from September 30 - October 6, 2025 and help us keep the momentum going. Let’s continue to reimagine how we get around and work toward a more sustainable, equitable transportation system! Did you take on the challenge? Give your feedback through the America Walks' survey to share your input: https://lnkd.in/grGDv5mi #BetterBlock #UrbanDesign #Placemaking #PublicTransportation #NationalWeekWithoutDriving #CarFree #Dallas #DallasBicycleCoalition #AmericaWalks #TacticalUrbanism #WeekWithoutDrivingDallas #WeekWithoutDriving

Working alongside with the VALLEY POINTS FAMILY YMCA, Penn State New Kensington (The Pennsylvania State University), Richard King Mellon Foundation, and the community, this empty lot is now a vibrant and welcoming space for neighborhood to enjoy! Drawing inspiration from the YMCA and New Kensington logos, the space now features a bold mural, lively bump-outs, colorful crosswalks, local art, shade, unique seating areas, and a spray park. Beyond aesthetics, our goal was to address safety and accessibility by testing these changes to see if they help create a more pedestrian-friendly environment. By trying out elements like bump-outs and new crosswalks, we got a better picture of what permanent improvements could look like for the YMCA and the whole neighborhood. We hope this effort will spark new ideas and inspire conversations about how this space can continue to evolve where people can gather and connect. The Valley Points Family YMCA is inviting local organizations to ‘take over’ the newly revitalized space for their own unique community-focused events through October 20, 2024. With a ready-to-use stage and flexible vendor space, it’s a perfect opportunity for our community partners to engage with residents. If you’re interested in activating this space, visit the link in our bio to learn more! (🎥: Post Production Scripts) #BetterBlock #BetterBlockNewKen #NewKensington #Pittsburgh #UrbanDesign #Placemaking #ThirdSpace #TacticalUrbanism #BetterBlockInABox #Community #Wikiblock

As promised, here’s part two of our Week Without Driving challenge! One of our project managers kicked off her morning commute in Arlington, a city without direct public transit connections to the Dallas stations. Like many others in similar situations, she had to rely on an Uber to reach the DART train. If you caught our last video, you saw that the Better Block crew took on the task of using only DART buses and trains to get to the office in Oak Cliff. Spoiler alert: things didn’t go as planned when the bus runs behind schedule and she runs into an unfinished sidewalk. Show us your journey by using #WeekWithoutDriving and #WeekWithoutDrivingDallas through October 6! #BetterBlock #UrbanDesign #Placemaking #PublicTransportation #NationalWeekWithoutDriving #CarFree #Dallas #DallasBicycleCoalition #AmericaWalks #TacticalUrbanism America Walks

Some of the Better Block team members have taken on the Week Without Driving challenge, and just as the name suggests, it was a bit challenging - especially when the bus decides to show up a little behind schedule. Starting from different bus stops around Dallas, the crew relied on DART to navigate their way to the office in support of this national campaign organized by America Walks; aiming to advocate for safer, more reliable options for those who rely on public transit, biking, or walking as their primary mode of transportation. Follow along to see how their commute unfolds! Are you taking the challenge? Share your journey with us using #WeekWithoutDriving and #WeekWithoutDrivingDallas through October 6 for a chance to be featured on our stories! Visit weekwithoutdriving.org/ to learn more. #BetterBlock #UrbanDesign #Placemaking #PublicTransportation #NationalWeekWithoutDriving #CarFree #Dallas #DallasBicycleCoalition #AmericaWalks #TacticalUrbanism #WeekWithoutDrivingDallas #WeekWithoutDriving

We turned a car-dominated street into a people-first space with our first #woonerf design at the Eastlake Street Fair! To achieve the woonerf effect, we used paint, colorful duct tape, and temporary seating to create a vibrant gathering spot filled with local vendors and community fun - showing what’s possible when streets are made for people, not just cars. By forcing cars to slow down and creating visual cues that prioritize people, woonerfs turn ordinary streets into inviting spaces that encourage people to walk, shop, and stay a while. At Better Block, we have a saying: “It’s hard to find parking in great places,” because the best spots are built for people, not vehicles. That’s exactly what we brought to life in Eastlake by filling the streets with energy, creativity, and community spirit—highlighting how thoughtful design can shape vibrant, people-centered places. And that’s a #BetterBlockBop! #BetterBlock #BetterBlockColorado #BetterBlockEastlake #Eastlake #Thronton #Colorado #UrbanDesign #Placemaking #ThirdSpace #TacticalUrbanism #Community #StreetFair #Wikiblock #Woonerf Thornton Office of Economic Development

Join us for the Greater Hazelwood Better Block at 4915 Second Avenue on October 26 for our third Pittsburgh demonstration! In collaboration with Hazelwood Initiative, Inc., Greater Hazelwood Community Collaborative - GHCC, Center of Life, and the Richard King Mellon Foundation, our goal is to transform this space into a vibrant community hub by adding in crosswalks, a ground mural, ADA Wikiblock furniture, additional greenery, interactive activities, and local vendors to activate the space. The Hazelwood ground mural will transform a parking lot into a vibrant community plaza. Inspired by the flow of the Monongahela River from Hazelwood to downtown Pittsburgh, the mural’s path mirrors the river’s shape. The multi-colored pattern ties back to the Elizabeth Street Bridge mural, which celebrates the history of Greater Hazelwood. “It’s valuable for residents to get the chance to see what is possible in the space,” says Lauren Coursey, Director of Community Engagement and Sustainability at Hazelwood Initiative. “There was excitement at our July community meeting about the addition of recreation and activities for all ages and abilities that simultaneously add to the beauty of Hazelwood.” We’re currently seeking volunteers to be part of this transformation and vendors to activate the space after the October 26 kickoff through November 17! Learn more and sign up by visiting betterblock.org/hazelwood to get involved! #BetterBlock #UrbanDesign #Placemaking #ThirdSpace #TacticalUrbanism #BetterBlockInABox #Hazelwood #GreaterHazelwood #Pittsburgh #Community #Wikiblock #BetterBlockHazelwood #BetterBlockGreaterHazelwood

A before/after of our latest project in New Kensington! We worked with the VALLEY POINTS FAMILY YMCA and the community to transform the YMCA lot into a vibrant, active space. With inspiration from the YMCA and New Kensington logos, we reimagined the space with features like a colorful wall mural, bump-outs, crosswalks, and even sunflowers. This temporary demonstration brought fresh energy to the area, using painted Tyvek to display public art, PVC pipe structures for shade, and repurposed tires for seating to create a people-centered environment. We also wanted to create a more pedestrian-friendly environment, so we tested out these changes to see their long-term impact. Thank you to our sponsors at the Richard King Mellon Foundation and everyone who joined in this journey of creating and designing with the neighbors of New Kensington! #BetterBlock #BetterBlockNewKen #NewKensington #Pittsburgh #UrbanDesign #Placemaking #ThirdSpace #TacticalUrbanism #BetterBlockInABox #Community #Wikiblock