The Better Block

Ever wondered how our El Mercado Everybody Table came to be?

Created through a partnership with AARP Texas, the Everybody Table is part of our Age-Friendly Wikiblock Collection - an extension of our open-source design library focused on creating spaces that are welcoming and accessible for adults 50+ while bringing together people of all ages.

Designed to support livable, age-friendly communities, these pieces prioritize comfort, stability, usability, and connection. The Everybody Table lives up to its name. With seating for four, generous space for easy entry and exit, and room to accommodate wheelchairs, walkers, and strollers, it’s designed so everyone has a seat at the table.

Since 2022, this design has been used in projects around the world, helping create places where people of all ages can gather, connect, and build community.

Hold the dots from slides 10-19 and scroll to see the table in action! Ready to build your own? Download the files for free at betterblock.org/aarptx and get started!

From safer crossings to vibrant public spaces, the 2025 Better Block University cohort brought bold community ideas to life through tactical urbanism and safer streets! Over the next few weeks, we’ll be highlighting the incredible projects created by our 12 BBU participants. Here’s a look at the first four:

Faced with limited public gathering spaces, Brittany transformed five parking spaces into a temporary pop-up park during a community Walkabout. By adding curb extensions, narrowing overly wide travel lanes, and shortening crossing distances, the project slowed traffic speeds and created a safer, more comfortable space for neighbors to gather, walk, and connect.

In response to heavy traffic along Kansas Avenue, Monica worked with community members and muralist José Faus to transform the corridor through vibrant public art and placemaking. With the community, they painted a large-scale mural, 10 sidewalk designs inspired by Lotería Mexicana, and a colorful crosswalk connecting nearby small businesses. This created a safer, more welcoming streetscape that celebrates the culture and identity of the Armourdale neighborhood.

To reimagine an underutilized public square in downtown Ardmore, Craig led a community-informed transformation centered on beauty, comfort, and sustainability. The project featured a vibrant mural inspired by migratory bird flight patterns, custom-built planters, native plantings, flexible seating, and a revived Windows Into History installation celebrating the plaza’s rich transit heritage.

Andrew’s project at the Martin Luther King Community Center in Fort Worth focused on creating a safer, cleaner, and more welcoming environment through community-driven design. With the help of 30 volunteers, the team built and planted raised flower beds around the center’s entryway and enhanced the space’s appearance while supporting principles of Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design to foster greater community pride and ownership.

Inspired by these projects? Applications for the Better Block University 2026 cohort are now open! Apply today at betterblock.org/bbu

What if the idea you have for your neighborhood could actually happen?

Better Block University was created for people who see potential in their communities and are ready to take the first step toward change! Over four months, participants learn how to transform ideas into action through hands-on mentorship, collaboration, and real-world tactical urbanism projects focused on public safety.

Whether you’re passionate about safer crossings, activated public spaces, community gathering spots, or stronger neighborhood connections, BBU is designed to help you build it.

Applications for the 2026 cohort are now open, and we’re looking for 15 participants - 5 in North Texas and 10 worldwide - to join the movement. There are also full tuition scholarships of $2,500 available for North Texas applicants thanks to the support from the Communities Foundation of Texas, Harold Simmons Foundation, and HEB.

Learn more and apply at betterblock.org/bbu!

Continuing our Paris Learning Journey with Reimagining the Civic Commons, we explored how streets, nature, and public life intersect in and around central Paris.

We began in Saint-Denis with a visit to the Olympic Aquatic Center and a walking tour led by Alex Lapinte-Law of Agence POP. There, we learned how major events, like the 2024 Summer Olympics, can create lasting community benefits when planned with intention.

For lunch, we stopped at La REcyclerie, an urban farm and eco-center restaurant located along a former Petite Ceinture station, now transformed into a vibrant community space. We then hopped on bikes to explore the La Chapelle area with Agnès Bonhomme from the Ville de Paris, discussing how former infrastructure can be reclaimed for nature and everyday neighborhood life.

We wrapped up the day at Rue Louis Blanc’s School Street, where Hiba Bedouin and Fabien Clavier of AREP shared how reimagining streets around schools can help rebalance public space for daily life.

Day two showed us how infrastructure, nature, and community can work together at every scale. Up next: Day 3, where we bring it all together!