Benches, trees and flowers were brought in for what looked like a street festival. But there was a more serious goal, as Denver Mayor Michael Hancock explained to the crowd.
MICHAEL HANCOCK: "Thank you for what you're doing to make our city great, and to help make Jefferson Park a better block."
BOB DOUGHTY: The idea for the transformation came from a national program called the Better Block project. The program supports urban redevelopment by helping local activists demonstrate how to create a lively atmosphere. Volunteers can spend months getting ready for the short-term transformations.
Gosia Kung is an architect who leads a citizens group called Walk Denver. The group is part of the coalition working to renew the city's urban neighborhoods.
GOSIA KUNG: "Two weeks ago, these spaces were empty, and by empty, I mean rats and pigeons and you name it. And today it's [an] art gallery and a bike shop and restaurants."
JUNE SIMMS: The one-day makeover was designed to help people explore the possibilities for renewing the neighborhood. Gosia Kung says the trees, the flowers, everything was borrowed, so it all had to be returned.
GOSIA KUNG: "This is a kind of low-budget way to create this environment without having to ask for a million-dollar national grant."
The organizers also invited food trucks to come to the event. Tables were set up along the sidewalk to give people a place to sit and eat. One food truck offered different kinds of tacos. Another served pizza baked in a wood-fired oven.
最新
2013-11-25
2013-11-25
2013-11-25
2013-11-25
2013-11-25
2013-11-25