Defending the Crown: ES Strives to Remain Missouri’s Most Neighborly City

Excelsior Springs, Mo. – Excelsior Springs is preparing to celebrate National Good Neighbor Day on September 28, a tradition that Neighborhood Specialist Laura Mize says gives residents “an excuse to knock on a neighbor’s door, introduce ourselves, and say, ‘hello.’”

First proclaimed by President Jimmy Carter in 1978, the annual observance encourages Americans to strengthen communities through kindness and connection.

“It’s a day where people are reminded that having a good relationship with those around us is a good thing,” Mize said. “National Good Neighbor Day gives us an excuse to do an act of kindness for someone who lives near us.”

Mize recalls her own upbringing in a neighborhood where block parties were common and people helped one another during hard times. “There was an extra layer of security for a child when they know their neighbors will come help if there is an emergency,” she said. She hopes to see that same sense of safety and belonging take root in Excelsior Springs.

She added that the definition of a good neighbor has shifted. “It has commonly become the ideal that a good neighbor is someone who is quiet and leaves others alone, but that idea has not always been normal.”

Mize pointed to research showing Americans are spending less time with their neighbors and trusting them less than in years past. “Social trust refers to how we think about others,” she said. “Do we trust that, in general, other people will treat us well or poorly? Do we generally expect people will be kind or will they be mean?”

To help rebuild that trust, she suggests simple gestures. “My favorite simple way to participate is to leave a little bag of treats with a kind note on my neighbors’ doorknob,” she said. “A simple gathering could be inviting your neighbors to make s’mores around a fire pit.”

For those looking for bigger ways to celebrate, Mize pointed to the city’s Mayor’s Block Party Challenge, which runs through the end of October. “Mayor Mark Spohn has challenged the residents of Excelsior Springs to have 50 block parties or neighbor gatherings between Easter and Halloween,” she said. “Currently, we are at 27 registered gatherings. A gathering must have four neighboring households to be eligible.”

Residents can register their events online at cityofesmo.com, and Mize said the gatherings don’t have to be complicated—coffee and doughnuts, a cookout, or a small get-together are all encouraged.

Mize also encouraged residents to nominate outstanding neighbors at missourigoodneighborweek.com.

Other ways to participate include the Snow Angels and Mow Angels programs, which help neighbors with shoveling or lawn care; joining book or writing clubs; or hosting casual neighborhood nights such as Firepit and Flamingo Fridays.

Businesses also support neighborly acts, Mize noted. “The Thrive Curb Appeal program allows residents to nominate neighbors with eye-catching homes, landscaping, and garden spaces. Business sponsors provide winners with a gift card, and the winner gets to sport a sign declaring their achievement for a month.”

Clay County Senior Services is also part of the effort. “They challenge people to do something kind for an older neighbor,” Mize said. “Those who accept the challenge complete a form and turn it in for a free treat from Wellness Café at the Excelsior Springs Community Center.”

The city’s Neighborhood Engagement Team will meet on October 27 at 7 p.m. at the Excelsior Springs branch of the Mid-Continent Public Library for anyone wanting to learn more. On September 27, the community is also invited downtown for the Night Out Against Crime block party from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. to celebrate first responders.

“Excelsior Springs is full of people who already understand how to be a good neighbor,” Mize said. “September 28 is just a day where we are reminded that having a good relationship with your neighbors is a good thing.”