Block parties can happen, when done the right way

I am so excited for all the good people of Philadelphia on organized blocks who know how to have a nice time and throw a safe, and family-friendly block party. The good news is that after the nightmare of the coronavirus pandemic, social distancing for over a year, and essentially not even being able to socialize with your neighbors, the signal has been given by city officials, we can do those kinds of things again.
Me as an old head and as someone with “mother wit,” I am not going to go “buck wild” just because our esteemed Governor of PA has lifted so many of the COVID era restrictions he had placed on the state. I’m also not going to let my guard down completely because Dr. Anthony Fauci and the head of the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) say it’s ok to stop wearing a face mask if you are fully vaccinated. My “mother wit” tells me that if I am around strangers and I don’t know what their status is, I will continue to wear my mask.
If I were attending a block party on my own block. For example, and there are a few neighbors down the street I’m not sure about, in terms of whether they got vaccinated or not, I won’t be up in their faces. I say just use your head. Particularly for us older folk. A lot of our younger population still has not been vaccinated yet. So, as much as I love my young people, I’ll be telling them to talk to me from over there. (Smile). Remember senior citizens Covid-19 was not kind at all to elders. So a word to the wise, even if you are fully vaccinated be careful of those around you, who may not be. As much as I congratulate our medical doctors and scientists for coming up with several vaccines to help protect us from the virus, there are still cases popping up here and there in the United States and outside the states. Fully vaccinated people have gotten exposed to COVID after vaccination, came down with the virus, and die.
Back to the good news: Things are so much better now, across America, and here in the tri-state area, than it was this same time last year. For that, we are very grateful. I am thrilled that the City of Philadelphia will allow blocks that fill out the paperwork requesting a Block Party permit. As long as the permit is granted, they can move forward with plans for a summer block party.
The information below can be found on the city of Philadelphia website:
www.philadelphiastreets.com/highways/street-event-application-guide/
The Streets Department began accepting permit applications for Street Events (Block Party and Other events) on April 15, 2021. However, requests for events will only be reviewed from May 21, 2021, and forward. Street Festivals (Special Events) are currently being accepted for review. The Department will work to review and approve applications on a rolling basis as expeditiously as possible. All permitted events are subject to the Department of Public Health’s guidance in effect on the date of the event, including crowd size limits. Depending on the size and type of event, Block Captains, Applicants, and Organizers are now required to either certify they will follow all local COVID-19 public health guidance or (Festival Events) and submit a COVID-19 safety plan for approval.
Approvals will be determined based on several factors, including, but not limited to: compliance with COVID-19 public health guidance, availability of the requested space on the proposed date, the number of other Street Events scheduled for the proposed date, and the type and amount of City services required.
The Block Party Application Process has been streamlined for residents applying for block party permits. It has been modified to improve the integrity and efficiency of the program. Applicants will no longer need to contact their local Police District for approval to close their street before submitting applications. The Streets and Police Departments will manage this step of the process internally, saving residents extra time and added processing.
Applicants are now informed in advance if their block is approved to be closed to traffic by the Police Department before providing payment for the permit and booking ancillary items such as food, music, and other party-related activities. Historically, local Police Districts approved the closure of a street to traffic. Beginning August 1, 2018, street closures were approved after block party applications were processed and the permit was approved by the Streets Department.
Applicants may apply online. Applications submitted through the online process are sent directly to the local Police Districts for approval. Once approved by Police, the system sends the applicant an email requesting payment and awaits Streets Department approval.
Paper applications – (in-person or by mail) may be submitted with or without a Police Pre-Approval Form. Applications without the Police pre-approval form will be entered into the system by the Streets Department, and Police will be notified automatically. Applicants will be notified within five days of applying its outcome and can select to be notified by email or mail.
Early submission of applications enables the Streets Department to process forms and quickly notify SEPTA, Fire, and Police Departments of all block party street closures in their districts. The Streets Department has made it easier for residents to schedule their block parties by making the application available online! To apply online, visit https://stsweb.phila.gov/blockparty/.
One application may contain multiple event dates. One check or money order for all dates is acceptable. (Note: When submitting multiple dates on one application, ensure that the appropriate fee is included.)
Street events will only be approved for five (5) dates a year per block. If the street is closed for an event is the only entrance/exit to another street (a “T” street), a petition to close that “T” street is also required.
If you are hosting a religious event, submit a completed Street Event Application to the Streets Department for a non-block party event. If you are planning a Special Event, events planned on main streets in business corridors, contact the Managing Director’s Office: 215-686-3488.
Block party permits are intended for residential streets where a street closing can be made safely without police-provided traffic control or significant impacts on those who rely on SEPTA to get work and home. Arterial streets cannot be closed for street events. These are streets with multiple bus routes, trolley routes, and trackless trolley routes. Arterial streets are typically two-way streets that carry 800 or more cars an hour and serve as the go-to streets for first responders racing to emergencies or hospitals. Closings of arterial/high volume roads cause difficulty for the motoring public and can affect our emergency responders when called upon. These roads carry volumes of up to 800 vehicles an hour. Pushing this amount of traffic into smaller residential streets, which are not designed for these volumes, can have a detrimental effect on the quality of life for these blocks.
Approved Holidays for Block Parties are Memorial Day, Independence Day, and Labor Day.
Block parties are great fun and an excellent way to promote community spirit. In planning your block party, remember to make provisions to recycle all of the materials normally collected by the City. When it’s time to clean up, remind the participants and organizers to set aside recyclables and properly bag trash until their regularly scheduled recycling/trash collection day.
If the trash and recyclables are not properly secured and stored until the regularly scheduled collection day, a violation can be issued to the applicant of the block party.
“Block parties are essential to the fabric of Philadelphia. They are the heart of who we are as a city. After the immensely challenging year that was 2020, we are all ready to reconnect with our neighbors, family, and loved ones.
However, as life slowly returns to normal, we are committed to doing everything possible to keep our streets and neighborhoods safe–taking our blocks back from bullets and keeping the lights on to ward off the violence that stalks our communities.
“My team and I are excited to engage with our many communities to ensure a safe summer for our young people and families.” Erica D. Atwood- Senior Director, Office of Policy and Strategic Initiatives for Criminal Justice and Public Safety.