The postcards will contain a link to the Welcome to Fishtown webpage of the FNA website, which currently contains information on things residents are suggested to do when they join the neighborhood.
At Thursday’s Beautification Committee meeting, the Fishtown Neighbors Association provided details about a plan regarding its Welcome to Fishtown Postcard Project. The project’s intention is to welcome new residents to the neighborhood with postcards mailed to their house. The postcards will contain a link to the Welcome to Fishtown webpage of the FNA website (www.fishtown.org/welcometofishtown), which contains information on things residents are suggested to do when they move into the neighborhood. As of right now, the webpage contains five things: join the FNA and get involved, join a local Facebook group, learn about trash and recycling pickup on your block, how to register to vote or update your address, and how to download the 311 app to submit requests regarding common municipal services such as fixing potholes, reporting abandoned cars, getting rid of graffiti and reporting illegal dumping.
“Initially, we were like, wouldn’t it be great when you first moved into Fishtown or any neighborhood you would get a packet from your neighbors association saying, ‘Welcome to Fishtown; these are all the great resources that you might want to look into,’” said FNA Beautification chairwoman Monica King. “This is essentially like a welcome packet when you first move into a new place, but instead of a packet it’s a postcard.”
An actual packet, King said, would be expensive to mail and much more different to maintain as opposed to a website that can be easily updated.
“We can just make changes on the website as we see fit,” she said.
King said the project has an annual fundraising goal of $1,500. The FNA plans to raise the money by getting local businesses to advertise on the postcards and on the website.
One of the main goals of the postcards, King said, is to get more people involved with the FNA.
Also discussed at the Beautification Committee meeting was the addition of six new cigarette receptacles that were placed around Fishtown. There are now 12 total placed around the neighborhood, placed near the following locations: Anne’s Place, Anthony’s Cafe, Be Dazzled, Cedar Point Bar & Kitchen, Fishtown Market, Front Street Cafe, Holy Name of Jesus Church, Joe’s Steaks + Soda Shop, Johnny Brenda’s, Kurant Cider, Les & Doreen’s Happy Tap and Loco Pez. The FNA plans to make coasters advertising the receptacles, which will be given out to local bars located in close proximity to the receptacles.
The next FNA Beautification Committee meeting will be Thursday, Sept. 27, at the Fishtown Recreation Center. It will start at 6:30 p.m.