Keys for Community Building
As we all strive to find innovative ways of creating safe communities and reducing crime, sometimes the solutions can be quite astounding. But how do we go about doing this and have an impact? The famous slogan utilized by Nike is a great start – Just do it!
We often spend so much time thinking about these strategies and trying to seek out funding for them that we get sidelined and forget that we are seldom able to achieve great things without the help of others. Another chronic problem we hear about often is there’s not enough capacity. In 2010 I was doing some research on street pianos in New York City. I was truly inspired by Luke Jerram, an artist that had successfully done this and calls the initiative “Play me, I’m yours”. Could this be done in a much colder climate with short summers and unpredictable weather, I asked myself. The answer was overwhelmingly – Yes it can! And so the adventure began with another great summer launch this year in downtown Red Deer, Alberta.
The Ross Street Piano
It’s difficult to imagine having such great success without sharing it and engaging others that can help make a difference in their community. I consider this the key to great community-building initiatives such as the Ross Street Piano project. Local musicians, artists, businesses and residents have all done their part to make this a success. I tell people that it’s music to my ears. When I see the activity and the street “buzz” this has created throughout the summer, I’m further inspired. We don’t always need to reinvent the wheel when many successful initiatives and best practices already exist.
Does having a street piano downtown prevent crime? Well, if you consider the principles of Crime Prevention through Environmental Design, better known as CPTED, yes it does. There is a direct connection between our built environment and the human condition. We interact daily with people in the various spaces we inhabit. When you generate positive activity on the street, it attracts more people. Jane Jacobs wrote “you don’t really get a clear picture until you get out of theory-land and into the streets for a closer look.” This is what I do each and every day and it’s best practices such as CPTED that are preventing crime and supporting a proactive, well-balanced approach.
Our local initiative recently inspired another street piano project in the small community of Cochrane, Alberta. Their piano was placed outside this summer on a busy street next to an ice cream parlor and pie shop. Two criminology students from Mount Royal University in Calgary, with the help of their instructor made this a reality. Randi Boulton, a rising young star attended with me at their launch and played for several hours, entertaining a large crowd of bystanders. The more entertainment and activity we can generate on our streets, the less crime. Events such as this can also be the catalyst for connecting us with each other, a critical aspect of building community and improving quality of life.
Our community piano has now been brought inside for another winter. We’ve found a great new home for it at The Hub, a local arts and culture hotspot where people in our community connect daily. Residents, visitors, clients or anyone wishing to play a tune or two will be welcome to do so every Wednesday morning. Since it’s a local hangout for many talented musicians, I’m sure the Ross Street Piano will not sit quietly this winter and there is already some ideas brewing about the new artwork that will appear on it next summer – stay tuned.
Full story in Red Deer Living Magazine
Author: Steve Woolrich is a crime prevention practitioner based in Red Deer, Alberta and works with communities across North America. Steve is a believer of the ‘walk the talk’ philosophy and spearheaded The Ross Street Piano project with the support of family and friends. It’s truly a labour of love and passion for community. Steve Woolrich also writes his own blog, Target Crime.