From the alley to the block, the District’s public spaces are full of potential for community gatherings. Transforming a vacant lot into a pop-up community play space for the day or night can bring neighbors together, strengthen community bonds, and create a sense of place. Our City, Our Spaces! is a materials, tools, and equipment library for neighborhood-led activities. It provides guidance to the people of Washington, DC on how to create social events in their neighborhoods and open spaces.

The document and associated appendix, attached below, demonstrate how to grow an idea of a community gathering in a District outdoor space into reality by including a list of 56 materials, equipment, and tools to create daytime and nighttime activities. It also provides inspiration and details on the many public and publicly-accessible private spaces that exist in the District, and the activity types that can happen within them.

With this toolkit, residents and community organizations can host and assist in social, cultural, and physical improvement activities in their neighborhoods. The document also contains recommendations for developing a physical library to move this guidance from the page to the pavement!

The District of Columbia Public Space Activation & Stewardship Guide is also a great resource developed by the Office of Planning, in collaboration with other District agencies, to help District stakeholders foster vital public spaces throughout the city.