The Village Activity Book

Educating, informing, and inspiring a community.

In 2020, The Muldoon Center for Entrepreneurship at John Carroll University received a $50,000 Verizon grant to support “new programs and projects that empower children and residents to build a stronger, more connected community.” Art x Love was engaged to produce two projects in collaboration with neighborhood residents and John Carroll University students. First we completed the Steps to Equity GIS walkability assessment of Buckeye-Shaker, and then we leveraged those insights to create The Village Activity Book.

3,000 copies of The Village Activity Book were distributed across the neighborhoods of Buckeye-Shaker and Woodland Hills. Hundreds of submissions were received, scanned, analyzed, and are now inspiring and informing new community initiatives and neighborhood investment.

Parks Unlimited

View fullsize

The Trust for Public Land engaged Art x Love to create a community activity book that could inspire and inform development of the new Clark Avenue Park in Cleveland’s Clark-Fulton neighborhood.

This project launched at the start of 2020’s COVID-19 pandemic, and was intentionally designed to safely engage residents of all ages and provide opportunities for community expression, connection, and learning through participatory design.

We walked dozens of streets throughout the neighborhood and surrounding areas, and interviewed residents along the way to understand the specific challenges, experiences, and opportunities they would like to see addressed. This feedback was baked into every page of the Parks Unlimited Activity Book to provide residents with an authentic platform to express themselves and share their aspirations for the future. Art x Love also worked with local leaders and community organizations to develop a plan for the safe distribution and collection of activity books across the neighborhood.

The Parks Unlimited Activity Book is free and available to download in English, Spanish, French, and Arabic. Participants had a chance to win numerous prizes including a computer, iPad, basketballs, activity buckets, games, and more. At least one lucky winner will also see their vision come to life in the form of a public art installation or placemaking transformation.

Photo: TPL Ohio Staff

Photo: TPL Ohio Staff

Photo: TPL Ohio Staff

Buffalo Unlimited

Art x Love toured 24 parks in Buffalo, New York, interviewed dozens of residents, and collaborated with local leaders and The Trust for Public Land to create the 16-page Buffalo Unlimited Activity Book for the Buffalo Parks Plan. The book features a mix of educational, creative, and participatory design exercises that are designed to inspire, inform, and guide Buffalo Parks development.

The Buffalo Unlimited Activity Book is available in English, Spanish, and Arabic and is free and for all ages. Buffalo resident submissions received by April 3, 2021, will be automatically entered into a lottery for a chance to win a range of prizes that include smart watches, a Chromebook, local business gifts cards, sporting goods, and much more. Please visit the Official Rules and take the Buffalo Parks Master Plan Survey to help shape the future of Buffalo Parks.

The Buffalo Parks Master Plan is a project of The City of Buffalo’s Division of Parks & Recreation and the Office of Strategic Planning. The Trust for Public Land is leading the project and is working with local design and planning firms New City Parks and the Regional Plan Association. Representatives of local agencies and community groups are guiding the process as members of a steering committee. The Buffalo Parks Plan is being carried out from January 2020 through June 2021. This effort was made possible through the generous support of Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation.

Get in touch with BuffaloParks@TPL.org to learn more.