Helping Niles residents throw block parties is part of a larger effort to build a stronger sense of community that aims to draw more people to the village and subsequently increase property values, said Mayor Andrew Przybylo during a Niles Village Board meeting on Tuesday, June 23.
More Top Picks Aukey Dr02
Block parties have always been a part of village life, said Cathy Spadoni, Niles’ deputy village clerk. But last year, she said, the village purchased grills and Tiki torches for use by residents interested in throwing a block party. This year, however, the village purchased eight tents, folding tables and chairs “on the cheap” to create even more of an incentive for residents to get to know one another at these events, Przybylo said.
In total, the village has enough equipment available to lend out so that two block parties could happen simultaneously, Spadoni said.
In addition to the free use of village-purchased equipment, residents can also schedule visits to their respective block parties by the mayor, fire department — which could include a fire truck if one is available — police department and Niles Public Library. The Niles Chamber of Commerce has also jumped on board the block party wagon by offering to provide local business promotions and special offers to residents who request them. Additionally, residents are welcome to request sports equipment from the Niles Park District for use at their block party.
Przybylo said he amped up this year’s program because at his own neighborhood’s block party last summer, he noticed that people would share the village-provided grills but would then return to their driveway where chairs and tables had been set up.
To get people to actually talk to one another, Przybylo instructed employees at White Eagle Banquets — the banquet hall owned by his family up until April of this year — to bring tables and chairs to the event.
“We did it and it worked,” he said. “Because people, after they cooked their food, they sat around together and talked about their life.”
But the banquet hall couldn’t always be relied upon to provide tables and chairs to village block parties, so Przybylo instead had the village purchase the items.
“So with the tents to shade the people and the tables and the chairs, they will now truly build community,” he said. “After they cook their food on the grill, they’ll sit there and talk about the neighborhood and how to make it better.”
Przybylo said he felt that if the village didn’t provide the equipment, no one else would.
The block parties, like another initiative to name the village’s neighborhoods, is something Przybylo believes will gradually contribute to a “good feeling out there about Niles.”
He also hopes the program will remain in place long after he leaves office.
“I want to be in a position to say, ‘Gosh, we have to buy four more tents,'” Przybylo said. “That would be lovely. That would just make my day, but we’ll have to get there.”
For more information about the village’s block party program, visit: http://www.vniles.com/702/Block-Party.
Lee V. Gaines is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.