Over 30 neighbors in the Chautauqua Boulevard area of Valley City gathered August 31 for a Block Party, a chance to visit and get to know each other and meet new folks who have recently moved into the neighborhood.

VALLEY CITY, N.D. (NewsDakota.com) – Block parties have been held all over Valley City for years and years.  The Chautauqua area in Valley City has held one for the past 20 years.  It’s a way for people to invest in their neighbors and to highlight the positive connections of the community.

“When neighbors get to know one another it builds support and trust and friendships develop,” states Sharon Buhr, Andrea Winter and Micki Isensee.  These three neighbors and friends have taken the lead to organize the block party in the Chautauqua neighborhood these many years.

The Chautauqua block party centers on a potluck where each household brings a dish to share, but some parties in other parts of Valley City have featured root beer floats and popcorn.  Any food can work, but what matters is getting neighbors together to connect and get to know each other.

The Valley City Commission has encouraged residents to hold block parties by declaring a resolution about the benefits of block parties. And commissioners and the police chief and fire chief would be happy to attend a block party if they were invited. They hope that many neighborhoods in Valley City will hold a Block Party yet this fall—a wonderful way to develop relationships.