Did you know most powerful ingredient to our wellbeing is social connection? With friends, family, neighbours, acquaintances, and even strangers. Our houses and our streets play a massive role in giving us the chance to meet and connect with each other in a positive way.
The Henry Project is supporting two streets in the Perth suburb of Fremantle, to create their own individual neighbourhood spaces. We want to make our streets great places to gather, share meals, take some time out, play and get to know each together!
To do this, we want to create spaces and amenities where neighbours can meet often. This initiative will create opportunities for neighbours to meet, make new friends and lasting connections, and will demonstrate that by having spaces in common, we can improve our quality of life.
We are keen to have defined spaces to come together because it means that interaction can happen incidentally, very naturally, and without the need for someone to organise an event or gathering. And also, having a space ensures that these kinds of interactions are not just one-offs, but that they can continue long term.
We are setting up this crowdfunding campaign as the perfect catalyst for putting these collective ambitions into motion. We know that living together can equate to living better, and we can see that it is also true that giving together is giving better. Together, by each contributing a bit, we can create something we couldn't have individually.
And in the process, together, we can make our neighbourhoods stronger, one street at a time.
THE STREETS
Life under the Canopy | Davies Street Beaconsfield
Blighted by many decades of uncertainty with the Fremantle Eastern Bypass, Davies Street is grabbing its evolving character with passion. A small street of less than 30 houses, diversity characterises Davies Street. Housing is eclectic, surrounded by loved majestic street trees. Century old workers cottages, well designed social housing, mid-century brick and tile, an Indigenous elders housing co-operative and intriguing architecturally designed homes house residents across generations and cultures. Couples with young children, single parent families, couples and singles aging in place; gardeners, artists, professionals, students, retirees, and anything in between live here. For several years, the street suffered from a drug house in its midst with distressing antisocial behaviour. With neighbour actions and police support, this negative period in the street’s recent history is finally over.
Residents are now energised about filling their street with positive activity and re-claiming ownership of common spaces as part of the Reimagine your Street Crowdfunding Campaign
Pimp My Park! | Hilton Heights Pocket Park
Hilton Street by Street group is a neighbourhood group of about 30 families who have been meeting at events and gatherings since around 2015. Together, they have coordinated a range of events, from progressive dinners, litter clean-ups, garden workshops, bake-offs and Christmas drinks, all helping neighbours to get to know each other, build trust and feel more connected. With the help of residents, who were involved during design as well as construction, local council recently created a pocket park in their neighbourhood, providing a much needed meeting place for gatherings.
The residents are pleased they have a safe and accessible common space now, and want to consolidate more amenities in the existing park, so there is something for everyone to enjoy in the surrounding neighbourhood and in the process create a greater sense of community connection for the local residents.
THE PEOPLE
"We have only just started our crowd funding campaign but already
we have met new people in our street. It's great hearing cheery hellos and
small chats between neighbours who previously did not know each other."
Elizabeth and Mike; Davies St
"We hope to add some extra features like a herb garden,
fruit trees and a mini library to our park, to make it the kind of place a
whole range of people might like to visit. If we can create a gathering place
that appeals to kids at play, cooks, gardeners, book lovers, those who just
love to watch the sunset and more, we not only make good use of the space, we
will make it easier to meet the locals and get to know each other, and that's
good for everyone."
Maureen, Hilton Pocket Park
"We are planning great things for Davies St. Street community or neighbourly development is the way of the future…no doubt! I’m all for it."
Peter, Davies St
"We would like to see more people using our new pocket park. A herb garden would be great for cooking and movie nights would help us meet new people in our neighbourhood, especially people who are just moving in. It really would make them feel welcome."
Xanthe and Niamh, Hilton Pocket Park
"We've lived in this street for 20 years and have warm relations with our immediate neighbours. Now, through this campaign and what it will lead to, we are really looking forward to developing similar relationships with the rest of the street."
Pat and Jim, Davies St
"We have a fantastic community space that could be well used with a few extras to encourage locals to linger longer! Some edible plants might encourage neighbours to meet up, perhaps grab a lemon or some parsley, or swap a recipe and a shade structure would encourage the locals to stay longer and watch the sunset in summer months."
Lisa, Hilton Pocket Park