GU, neighbors throwing party

Universities tend to be self-contained worlds. Many students live, study, work and play right on campus and don’t get to know the people who live in the surrounding area.

That’s been the case with Gonzaga University. Though situated in the midst of one of Spokane’s oldest neighborhoods, students and neighbors don’t often mingle.

On Wednesday, that’s going to change.

The university has partnered with neighborhood volunteers to host the first Logan Neighborhood Block Party.

“I’m so excited about it. It’s been worth all the work,” said planning committee member Hazel Jackson.

Sima Thorpe, Gonzaga’s senior director of external relations and assessment, is the block party coordinator. She said the event evolved from the Neighborhood MAPS – Mapping Assets and Promoting Strengths – project.

“One of the issues that came up was that people really wanted to get to know each other,” said Thorpe. “Students wanted to meet people who weren’t students and longtime neighbors wanted to meet new neighbors and students.”

Planning committee member Kathy Riley has lived in the neighborhood since 1973. “I want there to be some rapport with the students and neighbors,” she said.

The block party will provide plenty of opportunities. Hoopfest is setting up hoops and members of the GU men’s and women’s basketball teams will shoot hoops with anyone interested.

Area businesses have donated raffle prizes. Free food and drink is being provided by Sodexo, White Box pies and area churches.

The Spokane Fire Department will bring its antique fire truck, Avista will offer free weatherization kits, and local bands will provide music.

Thorpe and organizers hope this free, family-friendly event will foster new connections in the old neighborhood.

“We want to blur the line between the university and the rest of the neighborhood,” Thorpe said.

Riley said a lot of her past interaction with GU has involved safety concerns. “Whether it’s kids drinking too much or just doing things kids do when they’re away from home for the first time,” she said. “I’d like neighbors to know these are kids being kids, but also hold them accountable.”

She said students don’t realize how intimidating a large group of boisterous kids can be to elderly residents. “I want the students to have a positive view of Spokane and their community.”

The Logan Neighborhood features four parks, three retirement centers, and a business district as well as the sprawling university campus.

“I call the neighborhood a diamond in the rough,” Jackson said. “We have so many assets – the river, the parks, GU.”

She hopes the block party will make students aware of the beautiful area that surrounds their campus and hopes longtime residents will embrace the value of the vibrant young people who attend Gonzaga.

Said Thorpe: “I really want our students to feel they’re part of the neighborhood and for our neighbors to see possibilities for partnerships,” she said.