This week’s printable house is actually the town square of your neighborhood! A good neighborhood is only as strong as the people who live in it. But a good neighborhood can be made stronger with the infrastructure to support it—like a gathering spot where people can say hello!
It’s one of the things that disappoints me about my current neighborhood. Because it’s a regular old subdivision of suburbatory, no one added any common areas for people to congregrate in, or pathways to wander. The only way to get out and see your neighbors is to walk down the street. Which isn’t a bad thing necessarily, but it means 6 months out of the year we’re all locked inside our warm homes instead. I haven’t seen our next door neighbors since September! Plus, I wish there was a community park or playground within walking distance.
New developments are following a much more neighborly trend: adding community centers, playgrounds, meeting houses, public pools, and game centers. Several local neighborhoods are including long winding walking paths and natural areas to rest and rejuvenate. I’ve seen a couple developments who even gathered all the mailboxes in a central location, much like the gazebo and mailbox we have ready to download today. So start your own town square, and get ready to mail lots of mini letters!
