In another life, I would have been an urban planner.
I love spearheading neighborhood initiatives in Pittsburgh, especially when it comes to focusing on small details for growth and overcoming the limitations of existing infrastructure to create better community spaces.
As I’ve studied up, I’ve fallen in love with ideas from Jon Jon, The Happy Urbanist (follow him on Instagram: @jonjon.jpeg). Jon writes a lot about attainable but meaningful shifts for better neighborhoods, and many of his ideas and recommendations return to a simple question:
How can you do the next small thing to improve your community?
It’s something we’ve thought about a lot in Swissvale, and we’ve taken active measures to enhance our quiet neighborhood every year.
We’re sharing some of those ideas today—as well as steps you can take in your own community to improve relationships, enhance infrastructure, and create a happier, healthier environment.
Table of Contents
Your Neighborhood Is What You Make It: Our Swissvale Story
3 Steps to Enhance Your Own Neighborhood
Where to Look In Pittsburgh
Let’s Connect
Your Neighborhood Is What You Make It: Our Swissvale Story
We’ve already covered how to make the most of where you live, especially when it comes to navigating a renovation, but those articles focused on the home—not the neighborhood.
Here are a few things we’ve found to be successful while living in beautiful Swissvale.
1. Block Parties
In many parts of Pittsburgh, temporarily shutting down a street is relatively inexpensive—or even free.
That’s why we jumped at the opportunity to host a small block party with a few of our neighbors one year.
What started as a modest party with a few houses has turned into a twice-a-year event that often attracts 40+ people from our neighborhood!
It’s helped us foster relationships with neighbors we don’t normally see, and it’s usually not very expensive. A few packs of hot dogs and a couple of boxes of popsicles are typically all it takes to keep everyone fed and happy!
2. Trash Pickups
During a conversation with neighbors at one of our block parties, we realized we could all do more to keep our section of the neighborhood beautiful.
That led to a simple decision:
We’ll all meet on the first Sunday of each month to pick up trash.
A day or two before, I’ll put up signs reminding people we’ll be out there and to attend if they can.
Inevitably, at least 5–10 people will show, and we’ll all pick up trash on our respective routes, which keeps our streets and sidewalks clean.
3. Sharing Our Resources
It’s no secret that we’re a board game family. Ted has built an extensive board game library over the years, and we make it available to the entire community through a sort of digital “free library.”
We’ve set up a form on our Building the Blocks website to host your own game night. Just pick out the game (and snacks!) you’d like, and we’ll drop it off when you need it.
4. Swissvale Farmer’s Market
Even our kids are learning the value of getting involved in the community.
Our oldest, Katherine, has found success selling homemade, plant-based popsicles and crocheted items.
We’ve met many of the other vendors, and one of them, we learned, is a local art teacher. We’re now in talks about setting up private lessons for Katherine so she can take AP Art next school year.
It just goes to show you: One small step can lead to something much bigger!
3 Steps to Enhance Your Own Neighborhood
So, how can you launch your own grassroots efforts to enhance your community?
Here’s some of our best advice:
1. Keep It Small And Repeatable
You don’t have to choose something big like “We’re going to tear down all of the blighted homes!” or “We’re going to fill all of our potholes in our neighborhood!”
Instead, focus on things you can do as a small group, such as:
Clean up trash from the road, sidewalk, and gutters.
Trim back bushes, trees, and hedges that are growing over road signs.
Cut away the weeds at the entrance of a walking trail.
Your first project should also be something that’s small enough to be repeatable. You should be able to do it on a weekly or monthly basis without too much planning or administrative trouble.
2. Spread the Word
It’s never been easier to connect with your neighbors. Some of the best methods:
Door-to-door messaging, signage, or letters
Facebook messages or Facebook group posts
Yard signs
Flyers in local coffee shops or store windows
3. Keep Showing Up
Grassroots efforts take time, but they can quickly build momentum.
Katherine’s simple farmer’s market setup may turn into an AP credit. Our humble block party has turned into a monthly trash pickup.
One small step leads to a bigger, more impactful opportunity.
Remember our first tip? Keeping things small and repeatable makes it easier to keep showing up again and again!
Where to Look In Pittsburgh
If you’d like to make Pittsburgh a better place and you don’t know where to start, look for a mission-driven organization you believe in. Reach out and ask about volunteer opportunities.
There, you’ll meet people who share your beliefs, priorities, and morals, and you can work together to make Pittsburgh neighborhoods better places to live.
Two of our favorite organizations:
1. Grow Pittsburgh - This wonderful nonprofit supports urban food-growing initiatives to improve social, economic, environmental, health, and educational realities. Plus, their annual fundraiser is one of our favorite events of the year!
2. Garfield Community Farm - This small farm enhances environmental justice and neighborhood resilience by increasing access to fresh produce and educational opportunities in Garfield.
Let's Connect
Like I said at the beginning, we’re not urban planners. We’re real estate agents who are passionate about helping people find places they love.
Sometimes that means assisting in selling. Sometimes that means assisting in buying.
And sometimes that simply means being a good neighbor.
We’d love to connect.
Feel free to drop us a line!
Cheers,
J&T