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Building a Block Association

Block Association Start-Up FAQs


Why should I be part of a Block Association?

Block Associations can:

  • Create a structure for neighborhood concerns such as sanitation, street and traffic safety.
  • Make city grants and other financial benefits much easier to obtain (such as tree guards or block party discounts from local merchants).
  • Build community by organizing block parties and other social events
  • Strengthen the voices of your neighborhood.
  • Provide a ‘bull-horn’ for the dissemination of important neighborhood information (e.g., street closures, parking regulation changes, TV/film shootings).

How do I start a Block Association?
  1. Form a core group of interested neighbors.
  2. Set up a working structure (with by-laws and officers).
  3. Inform neighbors and get buy-in from the block (consider creating an email group for quick responses).
  4. Alert your local Community Board via a quick memo with your block association name and contact information. (Park Slope is in Community Board 6, www.brooklyncb6.org).

How do I plan a Block Party?

There are lots of tips in "How to Throw a Block Party." It’s fun, it’s easy, and it really gives you a chance to relax and enjoy your neighbors!


Do I need to become a non-profit?

No. It can be a lengthy process and requires additional paperwork, so few block associations go this route. If you are, however, planning on doing large-scale projects, you may want to consider non-profit status. For some activities, you may be able to work along with an established non-profit; it’s worth checking out. (See "Handling the Money.")

How do I deal with Association monies?
(See "Handling the Money.")

You don’t have to have a bank account; you can use a "lock box" account kept with the treasurer. As long as the money in doesn’t surpass the funds out, taxes should not be a problem (talk to a tax accountant). Some people, however, feel it makes the block association more “above board” and official to have a bank account and, depending on your source of funds, that may require obtaining an EIN (Employer Identification Number) which you can easily file for online. But accounts can often simply be opened with the personal Social Security number of the treasurer.