City Hall hoping to encourage more block parties

Last year saw a massive increase in the number of block parties held in the city and the administration hopes the trend will continue because not only are they fun for the neighborhood, they help prevent crime.

At last night’s council meeting it was announced there were 14 block parties in 2016. The number is a huge jump from 2014 and 2015 where there were only two block parties each year. Council has decided to waive the $25 fee this year for hosting a block party in an effort to encourage more.

According to city administration, block parties are about more than just getting neighborhoods together, they also help prevent crime and promote community safety. The theory is, the tighter knit a neighborhood, the more likely everyone will watch out for one another and the safer everyone will feel.

North Battleford has a weekend planned specifically for block parties. It was announced June 9 to 11 will be “block party weekend” where neighborhoods are encouraged to get together and hold block parties. City Mayor, Ryan Bater, reminisced about the block party his neighborhood held last year.