Community and economic development consultant and author Peter Kageyama invited members of Wednesday’s annual conference keynote audience to begin talking about “love” in the context of cities. Highlighting such examples as the “Marry Durham” event in which residents took vows to buy local and support their community of Durham, North Carolina.Kageyama reminded the audience that people who live in cities are in a relationship with them. Because relationships are two-way, they might act differently in their own communities. 

“Not nearly enough of us,” said Kageyama, “love our cities.” He continued by noting that when people do love them, that positive emotion is contagious. People can also identify things they hate about their cities—traffic, ugly design, and poor schools. They know how to ask for potholes to be fixed, but they don’t know how ask for: 

• Art
• Beauty
• Comfort
• Conviviality
• FUN!

Where’s the fun? Kageyama noted that when you ask “where’s the fun?” you change the conversation about how to solve a problem to something beyond merely a technical solution. Fun needs to be seen as a legitimate engagement.

There are small things that can be done that have an outsized impact. Dog parks, pedestrian-friendly spaces, and comfortable seating are all examples of low-cost initiatives that have an outsized impact.  These small initiatives are the equivalent of love notes to the community. “Walk your city” signs were put up by a college student in Raleigh, North Carolina, to encourage people to walk in the city. The signs were popular and generated interest in people exploring different parts of the city, but the student was told by the council that he didn’t have permission to post the signs.

The issue was resolved, however, and the signs were restored. Sometimes the most creative and successful initiatives require bending the rules in order to accomplish a greater good. Young people and artists will always be willing to break the rules; we have to have their backs. Other love notes include public art and water features for children. You don’t have to invest in a large fountain, Kageyama reminded listeners. You can buy a garden hose and put it in a local park.

We need opportunities to play in our cities. If people are surprised and delighted, they spend money!  Greenville, South Carolina, has a fabulous downtown with a water walk and a Main Street with restaurants and stores. One of the most engaging features are the “mice of Main Street,” which is a $1,200 investment in tiny mice sculptures in surprising places that delight visitors and residents alike.

Denver, Colorado, has a huge “Blue Bear” looking in the windows of a downtown building. You never forget the bear. If you only see the world through a financial lens, then you forget the whimsy, surprises, and delights. The Big Blue Bear has value—it’s a love note. In New Orleans, an artist put messages throughout the sidewalks that read: “It’s good to be here.” Another love note.

When the city of Grand Rapids was on the List of Dying Cities due to population loss, a 22-year old proposed getting the residents together to make a lip dub video, which combined lip syncing and audio. With 5,000 participants, it was a huge success, celebrating the city. This same young man had previously been able to get a permit to have a “pillow fight in the park.” He brought fun to the city and found support from public officials.

Everyone needs to nurture and protect what may seem to be odd little projects because they may actually turn into something wonderful. People need to let everyone into the game. They may have tattoos, baggy pants, and weird hats, but it’s okay, and we need to recognize that. There are geniuses in all communities if we look for them and welcome them. People become co-creators when they love their cities and partner in solving problems. We need these partners to help.

So how do we do this, asked Kageyama? Here are his suggestions:

• Embrace temporary. Try pilot projects; they allay people’s fears.
• Minimize the daggers. Billboards and power lines are visual pollutants.
• Promote emotional truth. If we say things about our communities that don’t ring true, we will lose trust.
• Be better story tellers. Tell the good stories.
• Embrace civic experiments. Try new things. Don’t be afraid to fail.

He closed his presentation by noting that people still have a gap between the city they desire and the city they can afford. “What’s important is to find people who love their communities and will step into the gap. Managers can encourage people who want to help. Let’s create lovable cities!”

ICMA thanks its Strategic Partner ICMA-RC for its sponsorship of the closing session.