Why do we choose to live where we do?
While economics is a significant part of the decision, public amenities are just as important – and in well-planned cities, towns and villages, those amenities are in easy walking distance and help knit the whole community together. Schools are not just places to drop off the kids and hope that they learn something; they are community spaces where baseball or soccer might be played on their fields. Exercise classes might be held in the gym or a drama group could be heard rehearsing a play. My local library, which is a short walk away, offers, in addition to books, CDs and DVDs, movies in the afternoons and evenings and computer stations for anyone to use. The neighborhood feels alive with activity.
Museums serve as magnets for a community. They offer residents a venue for educational activities and community programs, reinforcing a sense of permanence. They provide visitors with a reason to come to your part of town. Most museums host community events, whether it’s the annual “strawberry festival,” or “classic car roundup.” In museums residents meet
Tour Group at the Greenbelt Museum
other people, help out as community volunteers, and contribute to the overall vitality of the neighborhood. Find a museum and you’ll experience a sense of community.
The State of Maryland currently supports museums through the Maryland Heritage Area Authority and the Arts and Entertainment Districts programs. These programs invest in museums and cultural organizations to attract tourists. But, museums are critical to quality of life for local neighborhoods, too.
When it comes to Smart Growth, nurturing this sense of community should be a core principle. In addition to density and walkability, sustainable communities are places where people want to live because of the mix of public places, including museums, libraries, even coffee shops as well as houses, sometimes on shady streets.
Mary Alexander, the author, is the administrator of the Museum Assistance Program of the Maryland Historical Trust.
Feb 27, 2014 @ 16:56:55