Tell the people what you WANT!

Use this link to get to Neighborland and tell the people what you WANT in New Orleans.

I discovered this by reading the article below published TODAY in the Times Picayune's New Orleans Picayune

Self-help books (and industrious friends) always say the best way to reach a goal is to write it down. To-do lists and wish lists help bring dreams to life.


Now there’s an interactive website to serve that purpose for your neighborhood in New Orleans — and everyone can join in and see other people’s ideas.

Bike racks, like this one installed last year by the Young Leadership Council, are high on neighborhood wish lists.

Neighborland.org was founded by artist Candy Chang, along with brothers Dan Parham and Tee Parham, with help from Tulane University’s social entrepreneurship program.

It’s pretty simple, really. Go to the site and answer the question, “What do you want in your neighborhood?”

Here’s a sample of what New Orleanians say they want:
- A Vietnamese restaurant in Lakeview.
- A swimming pool in Faubourg Marigny.
- Canoe racks and a boathouse on Bayou St. John.
- A single-screen movie house in Mid-City.
- More bike racks everywhere.

The ideas range from the whimsical (a clocktower on Bayou St. John?) to the wonky (low-interest equity financing for home rehabilitation in St. Claude). Three people claim they would like a mall Uptown.

Website users can go to a discussion area where, for instance, they can chat about the specifics of opening a small business.

Organizers hope the notions posted at Neighborland.org will inspire entrepreneurs to, say, open a florist shop in St. Roch, or the city to improve sidewalks in the Irish Channel.

Now that the site has been up and running a while, the group wants to focus on bringing a popular idea or two closer to reality. You still have time to add your voice.

OK, as long as we’re dreaming: I want the libraries open seven days a week and late at night. I want rail transit to the suburbs so I don’t have to fight traffic on Interstate 10 or any famously long bridges. And I want kids’ splash pads with fountains, sprays and water jets in all our parks.

What do you want?

Go to Neighborland.org and chime in.

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Annette Sisco is community news editor. She can be reached at asisco@timespicayune.com or at 504.826.3310.


THANK YOU ANNETTE!!!!!!!!!!!