How can you make your neighborhood better?

Around the holidays people have a desire to spend more time at home. For most of us that is our childhood home; a place that fills our memories with wonder and delight especially around this time of year.

As many of us make plans to travel back to our childhood homes, to visit with friends and family, to soak in all the comforts and joy of this holiday season, we begin to wonder, Why isn't my current neighborhood more like the one I lived in when I was child?
What makes our childhood home so unique, enjoyable, welcoming and comfortable? Was it a cozy home built by our parents or grandparents, or a neighborhood full of friends that we grew up with, or was it simply the memories that we spent a lifetime stitching together that evoke such wonderful recollections of the past?
It leaves us asking, what can I do to make my neighborhood more like the one where I grew up?
So, after all the parties, presents, festivities and family food gatherings, we should devote some time to think about how we can make our neighborhoods more like that from our childhood. Among our New Year resolutions, we should begin to strategize about how to make this happen.
What can we do individually, and as a community, to make our neighborhood more enjoyable for everyone?
Imagine how amazing it would be if everyone on your street would dedicate just one day a month to come together and take a leisurely walk, enjoy a bike ride or even host a block party — a little time without any annoying distractions to just enjoy the people that live within your community.
Imagine if your neighborhood came together once a year and made improvements to the community such as picking up litter, helping an elderly neighbor make repairs to their home or even plant flowers and trees.
We could also look beyond our communities and get more involved in making improvements to this wonderful city. It only takes a few people to make a big difference, so why not devote some time to volunteering for local nonprofit organizations like the San Antonio Food Bank, Habitat for Humanity or Haven for Hope?
As the holidays approach and we get ready to travel back to our childhood homes, take time to remember that we are the ones who made those neighborhoods special, and ask yourself what you and your family can do to make your current neighborhood just as exceptional.

Greg Snow, Associate AIA, is a project manager for WestEast Design Group.