block parties

Summer is a great time to get together with the other neighbors on your block for an afternoon of food, fun and friendship. It’s also a great way for new neighbors to quickly meet everyone in the nearby houses. We’ve compiled lots of information for you about how to throw a perfect party and even provide some money to encourage you to do so. Read on for lots of ideas.

 

Get up to $150 in “free” Money

 

WPHA is giving money for every block party to help with the cost.

 

·          Blocks where 00% to 69% of households paid their dues will get $50.

·          Blocks where 70% to 89% of households paid their dues will get $100.

·          Blocks where 90% or more of households paid their dues will get $150.

 

There are a few areas where there are too few or widely spaced houses to comprise a typical “block” so in some areas, blocks are being combined with others.

 

Call Melissa Womack of the Membership Committee at 816.914.5825 or email her at mwomack@hotmail.com  for the following:

 

· to notify her of your party and receive information how to get reimbursed for your expenses

· to find out which area comprises your “block” if yours is one of the exceptions

· to find out who’s not paid if you want to solicit dues from the non-payers to earn more money

 

Play Items or Equipment you can Borrow

 

WPHA owns the following items you can borrow.  You’re responsible to return them promptly so another group can use them, and must replace them if they are lost or broken.

 

·          100 feet of rope for a tug-of-war contest

·          20 burlap sacks for gunny sack races

·          10 oversize plastic spoons for egg and spoon races

·          Bean bag toss game

·          Two folding tables

·          Coolers

 

What do we do at a block party?

 

The adults want to sit around and talk, but the kids have tons of energy to burn off.

Organized activities are a must! Here are suggestions from previous block parties.

 

· Have the kids put on a play or a talent show

· Rent a moonwalk, water slide, obstacle course or other big toy

· Buy the kids each a craft project to make, like a bug box

· Get some sidewalk chalk and let the kids go wild

· Hire some teens to baby-sit/play with the kids so the adults are free to visit

· Have a free throw contest, soccer game, badminton or croquet match

· Everyone brings a baby picture and the winner guesses the most correctly

· Competitions - tug of war, three legged races etc.

 

Note: A theme like “luau” or “the fifties” can make the party really fun. Match the food, decorations and activities to the theme. Maybe a hula contest?

 

What do we eat?

 

Whatever you want!  Here are some suggestions from past parties.

 

·         Give $5 for adults/$3 for kids and buy the food/drinks. Nobody cooks!

·         Everyone brings their own meat to grill, plus a side dish and beverages.

·         Give $3 for adults/$2 for kids and buy fried chicken from KFC or Hy-Vee, then each family brings a side dish or dessert, plus the beverages of their choice

·         Crock-pot-cookout - Make everything ahead and nobody does anything but eat.

·         Use a small kid’s wading pool and fill it with ice to keep the potato salad, beer and soda cold (everyone brings a bag or two from the frig or QT)

·         Someone brings their popcorn maker and makes it for everyone

·         Someone brings their ice cream maker and everyone eats home-made.

·         Buy a 5 gallon pail of vanilla ice cream and lots of toppings. Everyone makes their own sundae. Store the bucket of ice cream in a garbage can filled with ice.

·         Bring large sugar cookies, various colors of icing and paint brushes and let the kids decorate them. Judge them for prettiest, most unusual etc. too if you want

·          

 

To Block Off your Street for the Party

 

Children love the chance to ride bikes or skateboard in the street, to draw on the asphalt and many other things. However, small children don’t always understand that this day is special and barricades are up to keep out traffic. A young child on our block was found playing out in the street the day after our party. Her response to mom was “but you let me play in the street yesterday!”.  Be sure to keep them safe!

 

If you decide to block off the street, you need a permit. The application to get one is attached. Just follow the instructions. Talk with neighbors to see if they’re willing to block the street for a few hours during a block party. If they’re okay with that, have them sign the application. They can sign even if they don’t plan to come. You’ll need signatures of at least 60% of those living in the area to be blocked off.

 

Mail the completed, original copy of the block party permit application to the address on the application at least thirty days before the proposed date of the event. Click here to get the application.

 

http://www.kcmo.org/pubworks/blockparty.pdf

 

 

 

Obtaining Barricades to Block the Street

   

If you want to borrow signs or barricades from the city, you need to go to one of the addresses on the application and leave a check for $30 as a deposit. Your check is returned when you return the items. The Linwood Multi-Purpose Center no longer has these items as the form states. You might try calling later this summer to see if things change because the other locations are pretty far north. You can also use your own equipment (barrels, sawhorses or cones) to block the street. Per the city, cars should not be used to block the street.

 

Additional Resources for planning your Party

·          www.evite.com for on-line invitations. Collect emails when you get the permit application signed. RSVP’s can show who’s coming (numbers of adults and kids) and what dish they’ll bring. Everyone can see the responses to avoid duplications in food and to buy enough party favors etc. for everyone.

·          U.S.Toy - lots of toys, prizes, games, activities, party ware, costumes and theme decorations

·          Euston Hardware Prairie Village - rental of cotton candy machines, popcorn cart and other large items

·          KCMO fire department - they’ll bring a pumper and crew to your event

·          See the yellow pages for lots of party rental places for moonwalks, obstacle courses, bungee pulls etc.