Chalking the Block for Jane’s Walk

(Source: Holly P.)

Have you ever joined a Jane’s Walk? Named for renowned urban thinker Jane Jacobs, this annual festival of free, citizen-led walking conversations takes place in more than 500 cities around the world every May. Jane’s Walks are based on the idea that everyone’s an expert in how they experience their place. Through these walks and other interactive city experiences, people can connect and share stories about their neighborhoods.

Although many take the basic form of guided walks (not lectures!), I’m not sure if there’s really such a thing as a typical Jane’s Walk. And they don't even have to be walks. The thing that all Jane's Walk events have in common is that the people who host them, and the folks who attend them, love to explore and reflect on where they live.

Over the years, I’ve seen some really cool Jane’s Walk concepts (Mural scavenger hunt? Exploring bakeries by bike? Native tree tour? Yes, please!) They’re grassroots and citizen-led, hence, they’ve got a great Strong Towns vibe.

During this year’s Jane’s Walk weekend, my family and I participated in something a little unconventional. Yes, we walked—along a single block. And we chalked! 

(Source: Emma Durand-Wood.)

Holly P. is a mom and great lover of walkable neighborhoods, and she’s hosted several creative Jane’s Walks over the years. Her first Jane’s Walk had a “People in Your Neighbourhood” theme, and began at a local library branch and ended at an ice cream shop. Next, it was all about playgrounds and secret paths (which is the walk where I first met her). During the pandemic, she created a virtual parks and Pokemon GO walk. And then, a few weeks ago, I was delighted when her text popped up, saying she had signed up to host a “Chalk the Block” event. (“And then I ordered a LOT of chalk! So much chalk. I love chalk,” she wrote.) I put it in my calendar right away.

On a breezy but pleasant sunny Saturday morning, my family hopped the bus and rode up to the school yard Holly had chosen as the muster point. Holly was there with her son (who’d dubbed it the “Jane’s Chalk”) and another family. We all chatted excitedly. More folks joined us and then Holly spoke to welcome us, shared a land acknowledgment and a little backgrounder on her “Chalk the Block” idea. She explained how the pandemic had been really hard on her mental health, but seeing great public art had been a surefire way to lift her spirits during those tough times. The goal of this event was to cover the entire length of the block with sidewalk art. 

(Source: Emma Durand-Wood.)

I was impressed at how Holly had thought of everything. She had tons of sidewalk chalk and a broom to sweep away sidewalk debris. She had wet wipes for chalky hands. She had sunscreen in case anyone needed it. And best of all, she had ideas! Before we spread out and began chalking, she offered a few suggestions on creative ways to decorate the sidewalks:

• Making interactive games like hopscotch, or numbered dots to jump on. (I was reminded of the amusing “Macarena zone” that an acquaintance once chalked on the sidewalk in front of her house, which provided endless laughs for those watching from inside!)

• Drawing designs that people can incorporate themselves in, like butterfly wings, or a balloon to hold.

• Writing jokes.

• Using painter’s tape to create mosaic/stained glass designs.

(Source: Emma Durand-Wood.)

Before long, the sidewalk was full of kids and adults crouched down creating masterpieces big and small. More folks showed up (some with their own buckets of chalk). Everyone brought playfulness and imagination in spades, and there was a lovely jovial mood along the block. At one point, I heard someone call out, “And there’s a bathroom at the end of the block! It’s at my house.” (She was laughing, but I had a feeling she was at least partly serious, which is really cool. It’s easy to forget once you’re past that stage, but bathrooms are critical when you’re out in public with young kids.)

As an introvert, this was one of my favorite kinds of events: one where you can show up and engage with people as much or as little as you like, and it’s all good, because you still feel like you’re part of something. Our family mostly stuck to ourselves, but toward the end, the kids started collaborating with others to make a giant “cattasaurusopede” (??) that spanned about 10 sidewalk squares.

(Source: Emma Durand-Wood.)

(Source: Holly P.)

(Source: Holly P.)

Eventually, we had to tear ourselves away; we were having such a great time, but had other things to get to that day. The block was about three-quarters chalked, and it was neat to  imagine a stream of kids walking to school on Monday morning and checking out all the art. I  crossed my fIngers that it wouldn’t rain before then!

Running alongside a schoolyard, I’d guess that long stretch of sidewalk is probably pretty quiet on a Saturday morning, aside from maybe some kids coming to the playground. But on this day, the block was vibrant and noisy and full of life, with each person creating something different on their own square of pavement—a sort of small-scale version of the “organic, spontaneous, and untidy” city that Jane Jacobs loved.

In a climate where some homeowner associations and condo boards have gone so far as to ban this classic childhood activity, chalking the block was a playful reclaiming of public space and a fun and joyful way to assert our agency.

If you aren’t familiar with Jane’s Walks, this 2016 episode of the Strong Towns Podcast is a quick, wonderful primer that will leave you anticipating next year’s Jane’s Walk weekend, or maybe even pondering what kind of Jane’s Walk you could lead, yourself!

---

---