Silver City — This Saturday, August 4, District 2 Town Councilor Lynda Aiman-Smith, town staff and community volunteers will work together to transform North Georgia Street between Highway 180 and 13th Street into a "Play Street," where children and families can come together to socialize, share a potluck lunch, play games, enjoy music and create art in a safe, familiar public space that is usually only open to cars. The street will be closed to motor traffic from 10 am to 2pm.

"Play Streets offer a familiar, safe place for children and families to come together, have fun and get to know one another," Aiman-Smith explains. "Research shows that this kind of space gives children an important developmental opportunity to be independent and interact socially, as they have fun with family and friends. Play Streets are also known to help reduce crime, lessen traffic problems and lead to other neighborhood improvements, but the main objective is to come together for the benefit of the community."

The event is, in part, a celebration of Territorial Charter Days. This year Mayor Ken Ladner asked each councilor to initiate a community development project in their district, to honor a provision in the Charter which gives the Mayor the authority to organize residents to make improvements to the town. Earlier this year, for instance, Councilors Guadalupe "Lupe" Cano and Cynthia Bettison each gathered volunteers to make improvements to local parks in their respective districts.

Councilor Aiman-Smith has chosen to use her Territorial Charter Volunteer Day to test the Play Street concept, and gather information to determine if it is something that residents would like to see continue, and perhaps expand to other neighborhoods throughout Silver City.

Anyone is invited to participate, regardless of which district they live in, she added. "We hope everyone will come out and join us."

Volunteers are needed throughout the event, to help set-up, coordinate food, and also to clean-up. Participants are asked to bring games, street chalk, a dish to pass and their favorite pizza toppings. A pizza oven will be provided, along with a barbeque for cooking, and tables and chairs. For more information or to volunteer, please contact Maria Stacy, community development, at (575) 597-7028; email: mstacy@silvercitymail.com.