Communication
Establish your communications role first, as they will be responsible for outreach and pitching your Open Streets program to potential project partners to build your team.
Your communication team is responsible for the following:
Developing your Pitch
If your community has never had an Open Streets event before, chances are few members of your community have heard of them, and many will need an introduction.
Start by developing an elevator pitch.
Keep your initial pitch concise, focus on the goal of your program, but don’t forget about other benefits of Open Street Programs.
Be flexible, your pitch should be adaptable for different audiences, and will be refined as you plan your first event.
Have a loose idea of where and when your first event will be so that potential partners and funders have a rough timeline for planning.
Building your Network
Open Streets take teamwork to plan and fund. Work with your finance team to take your pitch to organizations, community groups, local businesses and politicians that may be interested in contributing.
Adapt your pitch to the needs or interests of each potential collaborator, clearly outline how they would benefit from contributing time, funding, or in-kind donations.
Suggest more than one way for a potential partner to contribute. Some community groups may be eager help plan events, others may want to provide programming, many may only have the capacity to advertise on bulletin boards or social media.
Prepare a one-pager outlining your project’s goals and supporting stats from other Open Streets programs.
Consider whether the interests of a potential partner align with yours. For example, a locally owned gas station or fast food franchise may want to partner with you, consider whether you feel such a partnership aligns with your project’s stated goals.
Recruiting Volunteers
From set-up and take-down to managing intersections and guiding attendees, volunteers keep Open Streets events running smoothly. Many will be needed for each event.
Consider what volunteer roles your event needs. The Open Streets Project has a list of common volunteer roles, these can be modified to meet your needs.
Find community groups with shared interests, like walking or biking groups. Work with them to recruit volunteers from their existing networks.
Reach out to high schools, Open Streets events are a great way to introduce youth to community service and connect them with other organizations with whom they may want to volunteer.
Safety comes first, ensure you have volunteers with first-aid training and supplies.
Advertising your First Event
The population density, age demographics, and culture of each community are unique and affect how best to advertise.
Some neighborhoods may have enough pedestrian traffic for posters to be effective, more autocentric neighbourhoods may be better reached by roadside letterboards.
Libraries, childcare and senior centers, and other community hubs may have bulletin boards, calendars, or community newsletters where you can advertise.
Social media can greatly extend your reach. Some communities have social media accounts that function as digital bulletin boards to promote local happenings, these may be help you advertise your events. Look for other events and groups that advertise on such feeds to find potential programming partners.
Following Up
One Open Streets event may promote physical activity and active transportation, but regular events help to establish them as habits. By hosting your first Open Streets event, you’ve already laid the groundwork for more to come. Consider hosting another event the next year, maybe a few times the following year. Your momentum will build healthy habits in your community.
Follow up with your volunteers and programming partners after your event to reflect on what worked, what didn’t, opportunities for improvement, and interest in participating in future Open Streets events.