Online Community Bringing Bolingbrook Neighborhoods Together

When Tim Sembach and his family moved into their Heritage Place subdivision home in 2010, they wanted to get to know their new neighbors.

After hearing about the online social network nextdoor.com, designed to link neighbors in close proximity, Sembach decided to start one up.

“I thought it was an interesting idea and that it would be a good way to get to know everyone,” he said.

He printed 100 flyers to distribute in his neighbors’ mailboxes, inviting them to join. In order to join, residents have to verify that they live in a particular neighborhood or subdivision.

The site has proven to have more perks than just establishing friendships.

“One of our neighbors reported that his concrete goose lawn decoration had been stolen and shortly after posting the theft on nextdoor.com, the goose was returned a couple of days before Christmas,” Sembach said. “Another neighbor posted a food drive they were collecting donations for and thanks to nextdoor.com, they were able to collect more food donations than they had in the past.”

The website also allows users to send instant cell phone text notifications to neighbors in extreme situations, such as gas leaks, house fires and residential burglaries.

Sembach said many neighbors have expressed gratitude for the online network.

“They've actually told me it has ‘made this a better place to live,’” he said.

Sembach hopes the online community will evolve to organizing future block parties and neighborhood garage sales.

“Or to suggest a babysitter, post a missing dog, sell or give away something, offer to shovel a driveway for the elderly couple who lives down the block,” he said. “The possibilities are limitless.”

Sembach has also posted some resources on the site, such as links to village websites, Bolingbrook Patch, and even a Winter Storm Preparedness Guidebook published by the Illinois Emergency Management Agency.

“I think (nextdoor.com) is great for our neighborhood,” Sembach said. “I think if anyone is interested in getting a more community sense of a neighborhood, it’s a great way to start.”