[wordup] Intersection Repair

[Adam Shand]

this is great stuff, and portland based which is even better.  teresa
and i stumbled across "share it square" a few months ago when we were
looking for houses to rent (or something).

cool stuff.  it's worth going to the web site and checking out the
pictures (it's not quite as "new age hippie" as the pictures make it
look :-).

From: http://www.cityrepair.org/ir.html

"Intersection Repair" is the citizen-led conversion of an urban street
interesection into public square.

Streets are usually the only public space we have in our neighborhoods.
But most all of them have been designed with a single purpose in mind:
moving cars around.

With an Intersection Repair, that public space is reclaimed for the
whole community. The intersection of pathways becomes a place for people
to come together. The space becomes a Place - a public square.

How do you create a public square out of an intersection?

The community works together to make the place special . They make it a
place where people want to go to, where they feel safe and welcome. They
make it beautiful and interesting. They make it meaningful, an
expression of their own local culture.

Is it just painting the street, or something more?

Each Intersection Repair project is the work of neighborhood residents .
It is the people who live in the neighborhood who decide that they want
the public square, what it will look like, how it will function and how
it will develop. One neighborhood may paint a giant mural on the
intersection and stop there. Another may go through many phases:
painting the street, installing a community bulletin board, building a
mini-cafe on a corner, reconstructing the intersection with brick and
cobblestones, opening businesses to make it a village center... and on
and on!

Does this close the street to cars?

No. Many public squares throughout the world are in fact shared by cars
and pedestrians. These spaces are designed in ways that make drivers
move more slowly and expect pedestrians. Such design is one of the goals
of an Intersection Repair.

Why would a neighborhood want an Intersection Repair?

It depends - each one is different. Maybe people want a focal point for
their neighborhood, a place for community interaction and seasonal
celebrations. Maybe they want to slow down traffic, and let pedestrians
share the public space of the road equally with cars.

Who makes a project happen?

You and your neighbors do! You and your neighbors start the idea, get
your community involved, create a design, and install it at your
intersection. The City Repair Project is here to help you navigate the
process, work with your neighbors, connect with skilled people in yoru
community, raise funds, and meet City requirements.

Does all this cost anything?

The City Repair Project charges no fees for the work we do with
neighborhoods - we are a nonprofit organization, and are supported by
individual donations and limited grant funding. Project expenses -
paint, materials, etc. - must be covered by the neighbors, however.

How do I get started?

It all starts with a potluck . Have some of your neighbors over to share
food and conversation. Find out what your concerns and dreams are for
your neighbrhood.

If your group has both the desire and the energy to work together to do
something, schedule another potluck with more of your neighbors - and
invite The City Repair Project. We'll give a short slide presentation on
Intersection Repair, help you identify neighborhood goals and resources,
and talk with you about next steps for a neighborhood project.

When you're ready, contact us to discuss your idea and set up a plan for
action!