Fort Worth Block-Party Planning Tips You Must Include
When warm weather hits, many people think 'Block Party'. Since it can take several months to finalize plans for this type of event – which would include securing proper permits – now is the time to 'Think Spring!'. Block parties bring neighbors closer together; new friendships are established; conversation and laughter run rampant, and a feeling of 'community' is enhanced.
Block parties, often, take place during holidays such as the Fourth of July, Memorial Day, and Labor Day weekends, and some are planned to simply have fun for the sake of having fun, regardless of the date. Planners of this type of gathering need to be prepared to jump through a few bureaucratic hoops to satisfy city laws, rules, and regulations.
You want your block party to progress as, seamlessly, as possible. To accomplish that, you'll want to incorporate some basic, yet vital, planning tips that can help make every detail unfold, without issues. Be sure to obtain information, from the city, regarding any regulations that might pertain to:
1. Obtaining Various Permits
If your party will take place on city-owned property, call the city to apply for a permit. You may have to submit your application anywhere from 30 to 90 days before the event's date, so making plans, early, is prudent. You may have to apply for an actual Block Party Permit – in Dallas, this is mandatory with permits being issued through the Department of Public Works.
It is, also, important to know that in Dallas, at least, a single block party cannot exceed 200 attendees. Otherwise, it would be considered a 'Special Event' and be subjected to different rules and regulations.
2. Serving Food and Alcohol
Will the grilling of hotdogs or hamburgers be on the menu, or will food be in the form of potluck from participants? The actual cooking of food on-site may be subjected to city health codes. And when it comes to drinking alcohol, open-container laws may forbid this option at a block party that utilizes city streets. Depending on location, different regulations regarding legalized drinking on city property are common. In Dallas, for example, no alcohol can be consumed on 'City right-of-way' areas which can include curbs and sidewalks.
3. Utilizing Port-a-Potties
To ensure optimized sanitation, you may be required to offer port-a-potties for your block party. Even if port-a-potties are not mandatory, it would be prudent to have them available. A good rule of thumb is to offer at least 1 port-a-potty for every 50 attendees. Convenient, quickly-accessible port-a-potties are in everyone's best interest.
4. Offering Entertainment
Whatever entertainment options might be in the works, make sure the city approves all of them – whether it includes a miniature golf course, a bounce house, or other options. Since one or more city streets would, likely, be closed for the gathering, it is necessary to clearly understand what entertainment options might be approved, or not approved, for those locations.
You may wish to offer music for the event. Even if it's just an iPod hooked up to a stereo with high-wattage speakers, gather information on your city's noise-ordinance rules.
A variety of other city ordinances exist regarding block parties, such as supplying city-approved barricades, for example. Though by no means exhaustive, the information provided, here, is a starting point to get your block-party planning underway!
Seek Assistance from Others
Obtaining volunteers for your block party is one gigantic component you will need to ensure your gathering gets off the ground and progresses, smoothly. Hold a team meeting with neighbors to discuss logistics as well as divvying out various responsibilities. Organize a group of dedicated volunteers whose targeted responsibilities and efforts will be worth their weight in gold!
And Speaking of Port-a-Potties…
WESTWAY SITE SERVICES, formerly Moore Cans is here to help your block party unfold without a hitch, and having port-a-potties, on-site, is hugely convenient and, unarguably, necessary. We offer models of portable toilets that cater to every type of event, every size of event, and every budget. Our inventory includes an array of different types of portable toilets from basic port-a-potties to luxury restroom trailers that can accommodate anywhere from 2 to 10 people, simultaneously – they include flushing toilets, sinks with running water, temperature control, and other posh amenities.
Most block parties, however, utilize more-basic port-a-potty options since they are so economical. Take, for example...
*** WESTWAY SITE SERVICES, formerly Moore Cans' 'Event' Portable Toilets – our most-affordable option w/hand sanitizers
*** WESTWAY SITE SERVICES, formerly Moore Cans' 'Deluxe' Portable Toilets – a step above our 'Event' Portable toilets
*** WESTWAY SITE SERVICES, formerly Moore Cans' 'Flushing' Portable Toilets – surprisingly affordable with hands-free/foot-flush toilets
*** WESTWAY SITE SERVICES, formerly Moore Cans' 'Wheel-Chair Accessible' Portable Toilets – offer thoughtfully-designed safety features and spaciousness to allow for ease of maneuverability
Regardless of what portable toilet design you might choose, be assured every unit would arrive spotlessly cleaned and deodorized! Also, no WESTWAY SITE SERVICES, formerly Moore Cans' portable toilet units intended for special events has ever been used on any construction sites.
Give WESTWAY SITE SERVICES, formerly Moore Cans a Call, Today!
You can reach our Dallas office at (214)-351-0909. You will have questions and we will have immediate answers to help you sort out details, right over the phone!
Helping block parties ROCK isn't just our business, it's our passion!