Spooky Lane is a neighbourhood to emulate.
Pitt Meadows resident Tom Hardy appeared before Pitt Meadows council last week for a presentation about 192 A Street, and how the residents there have come together to make it a better place to live.
They started all decorating their homes and dressing up for Halloween about four years ago, and this Oct. 31, they asked the city to barricade the street, for what amounted to a Halloween block party on Spooky Lane. Hardy estimated that 500 trick or treaters visited the street.
He presented council with photographs from the night, and had a man with a chainsaw running through council chambers, and a skeletal monster.
Spooky Lane is just the latest event, as 192 A residents has Christmas gatherings, and a Boxing Day street hockey game. During December, everyone on the street catches the holiday spirit with their decorating.
“I personally think it’s the best place in Pitt Meadows to live,” said Hardy.
Mayor John Becker, who was at Spooky Lane handing out candy on Halloween, asked Hardy how other streets can get the same community spirit.
“First and foremost, get to know your neighbours,” he answered.
Becker said residents are invited to work with the city’s special events people to block street traffic for community events. Police and fire would also have to be notified, but Becker wants to keep the red tape to a minimum.
“Whatever we need for neighbours to have a lot of fun, we should be able to do it on one side of one piece of paper,” he said.
Several councillors commended the community spirit on display.
Tracy Miyashita commended the Spooky Lane residents, saying their Halloween block party should be “really inspiring for other neighbourhoods.
She also suggested the city bring back its annual Christmas lights contest “to make our community fun again.”