New City of Boston Block Party Kit Pilot Program Announced

Residents will be able to borrow games and supplies for neighborhood block parties.

Building on her commitment to fostering a fun, safe, and healthy summer in Boston for all, Mayor Michelle Wu today announced the launch of the Block Party Kit prototype created by the Mayor’s Office of New Urban Mechanics (MONUM) and Office of Civic Organizing (OCO) in partnership with CultureHouse. Residents will now be able to borrow supplies for outdoor summer activities from the City, including everything from sidewalk chalk to cornhole setups. The goal of the program is to make it easier and more fun for residents to organize and host block parties in their communities.

“We hope these Block Party kits encourage residents to add a little bit of delight without adding any additional costs,” said Kris Carter, Chair of the Mayor’s Office of New Urban Mechanics. “To the block party participants across the city, we invite you to test these kits and tell us what you think!”

“Through this program, we aim to empower residents to organize fun events in their communities and dismantle any barriers that may prevent them from doing so,” Henry Santana, Director of the Mayor's Office of Civic Organizing. “We are dedicated to providing equitable access to play in Boston and hope to inspire people to connect with their neighbors.”

Residents can request two types of Block Party Kits through the program, the “Game Kit” and the “Cool Kit”. The “Game Kit” includes jump ropes, hula hoops, a Goodminton game, a Slam Ball set, and more. The “Cool Kit” contains water balloons, bubbles, water hoses, a Splash Tower, and more. Both kits contain Block Party signage, chalk, sports balls, and bubble wands.

To request a kit, you must first apply for a permit to host a block party on the street. Kits can be requested at bit.ly/blockpartykits. Once you have submitted your request, the Office of Civic Organizing will reach out to confirm drop-off and pick-up times. After your event, we invite you to submit feedback and tell us about your experience via a survey that will be sent.

To make block parties easier to plan than before, the City has created a new guide on the city’s website and for download to help residents plan neighborhood block parties, including the newly improved permitting process for closing down a street. The guide is available in seven languages and can be found at boston.gov/blockparty