Playing Out: Open Streets for Belvidere

If you're a 21st century parent, you know it's less safe for kids to just play outside than it was for us when we were kids. In 2009 parents in Bristol, England decided that they didn't have to just accept this as a casualty of the modern world.

They formed Playing Out - a neighbor-led short term road closure program that created a space for kids to play outside for hours at a time without worrying about traffic or other modern dangers. The idea was so popular that it spread across the UK and is now an international movement.

This is doable in Belvidere, folks. In the scheme of things this is easy. I can just see the neighborhood pouring out onto Perry street from all corners as our children play, create, and imagine.

And it's not just cute - it's serious work. It's not just giving them a fun afternoon, it's giving them a different baseline for 'normal.' Hard to imagine better bang for your buck.