By Joseph A. Curtatone

(The opinions and views expressed in the commentaries of The Somerville Times belong solely to the authors of those commentaries and do not reflect the views or opinions of The Somerville Times, its staff or publishers)

Last Sunday we kicked off the fifth annual SomerStreets series with Carnaval at SomerStreets on East Broadway. That afternoon, the streets of East Somerville weren’t filled with cars, but with people dancing, playing music, walking, running and biking. It’s the start of another summer in Somerville and we have a calendar overflowing with fun and free outdoor activities that bring neighbors together. SomerStreets will come to Highland Avenue in July, to Holland Street in September and Somerville Avenue in October. The Somerville Arts Council has a number of great events coming up this month, including the History of Tap dance performance this Saturday in Magoun Square and the second Somerville Squeezebox Slam on Saturday, June 14, with accordionists performing around Somerville and coming together in Davis Square for a concert.

All these events have one thing in common—building community. People are returning to Somerville and the urban core at historic levels because they seek that community that is at the heart of cities. They want the vibrancy and connectivity of urban neighborhoods: walking to the store, biking to work and easy access to public transit. They also want the diversity, character, culture and community that sets our city apart. All these summer events celebrate the character of our city, and there’s a reason we want to have all these events out in public spaces, in parks and in our streets.

Because what makes a great city? It’s outside life. It’s when people meet one another and socialize. Vibrant, desirable communities are created when people are out on the sidewalks, in the parks and plazas, in the streets and paths, walking, pushing strollers, and biking. It’s why festivals, the arts, farmers’ markets and more all happen in our public spaces. Our home isn’t where we sleep at night. A home is our community. And it’s communities that build great cities.

Festivals like SomerStreets and our work on parks, open spaces and streetscapes draws people out, inviting them to spend more time gathering, dining, shopping, or simply taking in the street life from a favorite bench. It’s about creating a place that says, “This is not just a road to somewhere else. This is a destination.” That’s we love about Somerville and want to see more of—parks, city squares, all these common places filled with people, with so much energy you can feel it in the air.

But we know that making places where people socialize, play and relax isn’t only social infrastructure. It’s also economic infrastructure that encourages private investment and business development, and supports our local businesses. A study of ArtsUnion’s economic impact shows that investing in arts activities has a great impact on our local economy. In fiscal 2007, every dollar spent by ArtsUnion created 3.1 dollars in economic impacts. In fiscal 2008 the return was even higher, with every dollar spent creating 4.4 dollars in economic impacts. Arts and culture activate our neighborhoods and squares, make them destinations and directly support our local businesses. It builds the vibrancy that comes when increased foot traffic helps the stores, restaurants, cafes and services in our neighborhoods flourish. And when our businesses flourish, our squares and nearby parks are filled—with our neighbors.

All of this is about the kind of community we want to build. It’s about our values, shaping the physical landscape of our city to reflect those values, and taking the time to appreciate living in a vibrant, energetic and creative city. So be sure to check out the city calendar at www.somervillema.gov/calendar and see what’s coming up. We want to see you out there in the streets, in our parks, and helping us celebrate our diversity, culture and character. It’s what makes Somerville the city it is—and the community it is.