Republic driveway party spotlighting Good Neighbor Week

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (KY3) - David Burton isn’t just the community development specialist with the MU Extension in Greene County.

He has lived in his Republic neighborhood for 15 years. Although he admits that hosting a driveway party Tuesday evening was a spur-of-the-moment decision, he doesn’t mind doing it as part of Good Neighbor Week.

“I know it falls during the week,” Burton said. “I know people’s schedules, especially when you have young kids, it’s different. But we’re having some pizza tonight, so come grab pizza at least and say hi to a few people.”

What started as a neighborhood gathering in 2019, legislation signed in 2022 made Good Neighbor Week a statewide effort. In addition to neighbors chatting while snacking for a sense of closeness and community, Cris Swatters with Springfield P.D. encourages people to talk about what’s happening around them.

“That is just really a key in keeping your neighborhood and where you live safe,” Swatters says. “Knowing who your neighbors are, we can all look out for each other. That is super important.”

It’s especially important since those talks spark interest in neighborhood watch groups. Successful groups have plans designed by neighbors that focus on specific crimes or needs where they live. Plus, it’s a program that creates a sense of responsibility for citizens and neighbors to keep as they volunteer their time and efforts to communicate with each other and law enforcement. While SPD offers training two times a year, communities looking to get a watch group going can do so at no cost and reach out to police for more information.

“Anyone interested in joining a neighborhood watch, you can reach out to your neighborhood’s PAR officer,” Swatters says. “Or, if you have a neighborhood watch association, join that neighborhood association and get your neighborhood watch started.”

As for Burton, he’s hoping to have 50 people come out this evening. Statewide, he’s hoping for 20,000 reports of Good Neighboring this year. No matter how the numbers pan out, he says it’s rewarding to see neighbors gather together.

“There are too many benefits to list that can come out of something like this,” Burton says. “There are many health benefits that come to you by having that social connectivity. There are benefits to your neighborhood in terms of safety, even the value of your home.”

This link provides information for Springfield neighborhoods looking to start a Neighborhood Watch program or reach out to a PAR officer for more information. You can also head to this link for more information about the MU Extension’s Good Neighbor Week Program and to see happenings and good neighbor reports across the state of Missouri.

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