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The Better Block movement is coming to Asbury Park by way of an all day celebration that envisions Springwood Avenue’s potential, city officials said in a written statement.

“This event is part of a nationwide initiative to show what redevelopment and planning can mean for a neighborhood,”  Asbury Park Director of Planning and Redevelopment Michele Alonso said. “It’s a day of collaboration and a chance to show how empty blocks can be transformed into a vibrant neighborhood hub and destination.”

The 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Oct 14 event [rain date Oct 15] will features music, arts & crafts, wellness initiatives, pedestrian amenities, food trucks, green spaces, shopping, and giveaways along Springwood between Atkins and DeWitt avenues.

One of the main projects of the day will be the planned interactive street mural at the intersection of Springwood and Borden avenues, which will become a permanent installation,  Alonso said. Local artists and members of the community will paint the mural during the event, which will be used as a traffic calming measure.

Additionally, public seating will be installed; there will be wellness activities and screenings; a bike rodeo; pop-up retail and cafés; street art; home ownership guidance; a Kids Zone; temporary bike lanes and a bike station; landscaping; live music; and a “parklet” [the small portable park now located in front of Parlor Gallery on Cookman Avenue.

Behind the scenes, a wider community collaboration worked to help envision the plans that will convert two blocks into a walkable, bikeable neighborhood destination for people of all ages.

“The growth of a neighborhood can be shown in so many ways, and this event embraces all of them,” Councilwoman Yvonne Clayton said. “From art and music to entrepreneurial endeavors, from health and wellness to enrichment for children, Better Block Asbury Park will showcase how all of this growth can be achieved for Springwood Avenue and the west side community.”

The initiative is a part of the Asbury Park West Side Choice Neighborhoods Transformation Plan, currently underway through a partnership Asbury Park Housing Authority, Interfaith Neighbors, and the Dept. of Housing and Urban Development.

The Better Block initiative started in 2010, when a group of community organizers, neighbors, and property owners came together to revitalize a single commercial block in an underused neighborhood corridor, Alonso said. The group brought together all the resources from the community and converted the block into a walkable, bikeable neighborhood destination for people of all ages.

The local event will promote growth on all levels, showcasing the current vibrancy of the Springwood Avenue area and the surrounding westside neighborhood, as well as promoting the neighborhood’s healthy and livable future, she said.

“The celebration is intended as a way to empower the existing and evolving westside community in reshaping and reactivating the environment, and to provide residents with a glimpse of the area’s possible future,” Alonso said.

Event sponsors include:

Asbury Park Boardwalk

Asbury Park Choice Neighborhoods Transformation Plan

Asbury Park Housing Authority

b2creative

babsboys

Better Qualified

City of Asbury Park

Conover Real Estate Agency

DevOps Advisors

Guaranteed Landscaping

HUD

Lowe’s

Standard Supply Company

Sherwin Williams

For more information on Better Block Asbury Park and how to get involved, email betterblockap@cityofasburypark, call 732-502-5711, or visit the Facebook page. For more information about the Better Block Foundation, visit betterblock.org.

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