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Streets Are for Connection: Why AARP Vermont Is Supporting Community Block Parties

Laura McDonough,

AARP Vermont

Family celebration outside in the backyard. Barbecue party.

Getty Images

At AARP Vermont, we believe communities are strongest when people feel connected—to their neighbors, their neighborhoods, and the places they call home. As we work to make Vermont more age‑friendly, one idea continues to rise to the surface: connection is just as essential as infrastructure. That’s why we are proud to be a part of the Streets As Places Micro-grant Program in collaboration with Local Motion, Front Porch Forum, and the Preservation Trust of Vermont.

We’re excited to support efforts that help reimagine our streets not just as routes for travel, but as places where community life can thrive. Sometimes, that starts with something as simple—and powerful—as a block party.

More Than a Gathering

When a street opens to people and closes to car traffic, even briefly, something meaningful happens.

Neighbors slow down.

Children play safely.

People of all ages walk, roll, linger, and talk.

For a few hours, a street becomes what it has always had the potential to be: a shared public space where community connection comes first.

Block parties are about more than celebration. They offer a real‑life glimpse of what people‑centered, age‑friendly streets can feel like—welcoming, accessible, and designed for everyone.

Why Connection Matters

Across Vermont and the country, many people—especially older adults—are feeling more isolated. Fewer neighbors know one another. More daily life happens alone, in cars, or behind screens.

Strong communities are built in the opposite way: by showing up for one another. When neighbors connect, streets feel safer, public spaces feel more inviting, and communities become more resilient.

That sense of belonging is foundational to AARP Vermont’s livable communities work. Streets that support connection help people of all ages stay active, engaged, and independent—key ingredients for aging well.

Streets as Places for All Ages

Age‑friendly and complete streets aren’t only about transportation. They’re about creating places where everyone belongs. Community gatherings like block parties demonstrate what’s possible:

Older Vermonters stay connected through accessible, free gatherings close to home.
Children gain safe space to play, explore, and move independently.
Neighbors build trust and familiarity, strengthening community ties.
Communities experience what safer, more people‑centered streets can feel like, building momentum for long‑term improvements.

These moments may be temporary, but their impact can be lasting—shaping how people think about their streets and what they want for their communities.

Supporting Streets as Places

The program will help neighbors across Vermont host block parties and street events by providing funding and technical assistance—lowering barriers to connection and encouraging communities to reclaim their streets as welcoming public spaces.

For AARP Vermont, this work aligns directly with our commitment to livable communities: places where people can safely walk and roll, stay socially connected, and continue participating in community life as they age.

Because streets work best when they bring people together—and when they do, communities grow stronger, one block at a time.

Learn more about Streets As Places and apply today: https://www.localmotion.org/streets_as_places